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Has one club ever been so influentatial in international football?

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keniget

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The football Spain play that everyone admires pretty much belongs to Barcelona.

I heard the commentators on BBC mention that this victory started 4 years ago with Luis Aragones when they won the European championship, but I'd say it probably started a lot earlier than that at La Masia.

Seven of the starting 11 were Barcelona players (6 if you discount Villa who has just been signed) with more on the bench like Reina, Valdes and Fabregas who were brought through at the club.

Has a club ever been as influential as Barca for their national side (ironic given the politics)?

Ajax maybe?
 
Didn't we have eight players in an England side for at least one game when Ron Greenwood took over?
 
[quote author=the count link=topic=40941.msg1134487#msg1134487 date=1278884604]
Didn't we have eight players in an England side for at least one game when Ron Greenwood took over?
[/quote]

Yep.

And got mullered.
 
Yeah it was discussed on their podcast earlier in the week too.

I was going to reel off the info as if I had researched it myself but I'd never really do that.
 
That's true.

In this case the identity of the side is pretty much Barcelonas with the spine of the team and the footballing philosophy coming from the club. And I suppose most importantly of all, they've won two major tournaments.

The fact that they come from Catalonia makes it all the more interesting in the context of national pride. I wonder whether it's been a topic of debate throughout the tournament.
 
[quote author=Sheik Yerbouti link=topic=40941.msg1134489#msg1134489 date=1278884666]
[quote author=the count link=topic=40941.msg1134487#msg1134487 date=1278884604]
Didn't we have eight players in an England side for at least one game when Ron Greenwood took over?
[/quote]

Yep.

And got mullered.
[/quote]

No, we drew 0-0. Against mighty Switzerland and it was 6 players. Clemence, Neal, Mcdermott, Hughes, Callaghan, and Ray Kennedy
 
[quote author=keniget link=topic=40941.msg1134506#msg1134506 date=1278885457]
That's true.

In this case the identity of the side is pretty much Barcelonas with the spine of the team and the footballing philosophy coming from the club. And I suppose most importantly of all, they've won two major tournaments.

The fact that they come from Catalonia makes it all the more interesting in the context of national pride. I wonder whether it's been a topic of debate throughout the tournament.
[/quote]

Interestingly enough, it's Cruff's football that the Spanish are playing, by way of the Catalans
 
Yeah and supposedly he said he'd rather see the Spanish win it because they play football how it should be played.

Strange.
 
[quote author=keniget link=topic=40941.msg1134526#msg1134526 date=1278887389]
Yeah and supposedly he said he'd rather see the Spanish win it because they play football how it should be played.

Strange.
[/quote]

Why is that strangw? I think I'd feel the same as him. His legacy is clear.

I missed that quote, but I saw there was a cut of him interviewed earlier today on ITV just after the build up started where and he said something that implied (to me - not aure how accurate this is) that he was glad he'd influenced the game but perhaps a bit sad that it doesn't feel like it lasted in Holland
 
Yeah I think he lives in Barca and is a citizen now.

I don't think Holland winning the World Cup would've harmed his legacy in any way. It's there for all to see.

If England were in the final of a major tournament, I'd find it near impossible to support the other team out of some principle. As far as I'm concerned, we could have Kevin Davies bulldozing his way through the opposition with his elbows as long as we win.
 
But you haven't had quite as much personal influence on the game.

I bet there was plenty of stuff in the press saying "a more pragmatic Dutch side is what was called for" etc etc. I bet if Holland had win he would have felt his philosophy had been tarnished somewhat
 
Heh, no I haven't had any influence on the game, but if that's his reasoning I think it's very egotistical - to place himself above the footballing success of his nation.

And yeah, supporting England is hard work at the best of times.
 
Of course it's ego related, but I would say it's natural too and not a reflection of a bad person. National pride is also egotistical, as it's the implication that your stock or culture is the best.

But more than this, I imagine on his way to influencing the game he must have come up against a lot of opposition, I bet his ideas weren't always self-evident, so he's probably in the habit of defending them quite personally
 
[quote author=Sheik Yerbouti link=topic=40941.msg1134489#msg1134489 date=1278884666]
[quote author=the count link=topic=40941.msg1134487#msg1134487 date=1278884604]
Didn't we have eight players in an England side for at least one game when Ron Greenwood took over?
[/quote]

Yep.

And got mullered.
[/quote]

Which game was that? I only remember that many of our players getting picked for a game at Wembley which England won 3-0 against Malta, who crossed the halfway line maybe twice in the whole game.
 
[quote author=Dreambeliever link=topic=40941.msg1134572#msg1134572 date=1278905413]
Don't Bayern ususally have 60% of the Germany team if not more?


[/quote]

Where did you get this figure from?
 
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