Rivalry Game Taken To 11
Looks like we almost have ourselves a sell out for the Real Madrid game on Wednesday and the excitement keeps building, I thought I would devote a little time to the team and give some in site on the history of Spain and how a civil war it shaped the team and its people ties to the club and country. PS - the pictures just aren't working. Otherwise I would spruce this up.
The Spanish Civil War which was fought between the Nationalists lead by General Franco and the ruling party of Republicans, the fight lasted from 1936 to 1939. In the end General Franco and his army defeated the Republicans with the help of the Fascist regimes of Italy and Germany. This was pretty much a warm up to World War II.
The teams that played soccer were forever changed and the rivalries were more intense then anything we in the states have ever seen. The two main regions of revolt by social change were the lands of Catalonia and Basque Country. These main industrial towns were the hot beds of social thinking and change. They were also the hardest hit regions during the war. To this day they both seek there full autonomy from Spain.
See, Franco’s stronghold was in the city and capital of Spain, Madrid. The country of Spain was in strict isolation for the rest of the world in the post World War II years and Real Madrid became the mouth piece for Franco. By proxy they became not only the symbol of soccer dominance but the symbol of people’s oppression. This blossomed into a fierce rivalry between FC Barcelona and Real Madrid. When you beat Madrid it was more then a game it was sticking it to the man. The fans were able to let out years of frustration and anger in a mostly non violent manner. Stadiums are packed and the passion is ten times greater then any Hawks/Raiders game or Yankees/Red Socks game. Not even close.
In Spain the people view there club first and the country second. The Basque region fields its own team called Athletic Bilbao. Which is comprised of all home grown talent that would rather play for the club then play for Spain, they have even tried to form there own FIFA recognized national team.
One Civil War bred an athletic rivalry that is second to none. It also changed a nation forever and is still looking for a national identity.
The Spanish Civil War which was fought between the Nationalists lead by General Franco and the ruling party of Republicans, the fight lasted from 1936 to 1939. In the end General Franco and his army defeated the Republicans with the help of the Fascist regimes of Italy and Germany. This was pretty much a warm up to World War II.The teams that played soccer were forever changed and the rivalries were more intense then anything we in the states have ever seen. The two main regions of revolt by social change were the lands of Catalonia and Basque Country. These main industrial towns were the hot beds of social thinking and change. They were also the hardest hit regions during the war. To this day they both seek there full autonomy from Spain.
See, Franco’s stronghold was in the city and capital of Spain, Madrid. The country of Spain was in strict isolation for the rest of the world in the post World War II years and Real Madrid became the mouth piece for Franco. By proxy they became not only the symbol of soccer dominance but the symbol of people’s oppression. This blossomed into a fierce rivalry between FC Barcelona and Real Madrid. When you beat Madrid it was more then a game it was sticking it to the man. The fans were able to let out years of frustration and anger in a mostly non violent manner. Stadiums are packed and the passion is ten times greater then any Hawks/Raiders game or Yankees/Red Socks game. Not even close.
In Spain the people view there club first and the country second. The Basque region fields its own team called Athletic Bilbao. Which is comprised of all home grown talent that would rather play for the club then play for Spain, they have even tried to form there own FIFA recognized national team.
One Civil War bred an athletic rivalry that is second to none. It also changed a nation forever and is still looking for a national identity.
posted by Train at 7:50 PM
9 Comments:
Thanks train; you might have missed your calling as a middle school social studies teacher. Its not too late... i always assumed the Spanish Civil war was about which regions wine and girls were better.
yeah, after reading it this moring after I wrote it at 11pm last night it looks like it's meant for 12 year olds. I just wanted to do an overview cause I started to go way to indepth and figured it would bore everyone.
I just wanted to lay the foundation and if you guys wanted to learn more you could look it up.
So Pay attention class, It's Mr. Lovato and I teach 7th grade social studies.
it's always about the girls...and funny how beating Real, ManU, BMunich, Juve and Chelsea is kind of like sticking it to the man now...excellent post Train...and I agree w/ Duke, it's not too late for you...
I should have just written - If you want to learn about the Spanish Civil War read For Whom The Bell Tolls by Hemingway.
the late hours had me writing about Guernica and the battle of Ebro... it was seriously a huge post. Then I got pist cause none of the pictures would load.
I will keep Hemingway in mind.
You should it's a good read.
It's good way to view how the spanish people view soccer, heck, all of Western Europe. I think we will see some devoted fans and hopefully some people that can give us further background.
Oh and nice reference on Hemingway, both Walker and Texas Walker would be proud of you!
So where do The Clash and Spanish Bombs fit into all this?
right after Lost in a Supermarket and before Brand New Cadillac
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