Where would Catalonia rank amongst national squads?

Your all delusional to think with only notable players like Xavi and Fabregas would be an top 10 team.

top 30?
yeah I'm sure Serbia's massive team could take down half of barcelona and espanyol.
oh and lets not forget Czech Republic
as I said they could take down Mexico or USA (naming just some more known top 20 teams in the rankings)
easily top 15 and that is underrating them.

the xcx wrote:Your all delusional to think with only notable players like Xavi and Fabregas would be an top 10 team.

switzerland without xavi & fabregas kind of player can be in no. 8 in fifa ranking, why not catalonia?

knowing the fifa ranking is very flawed..
we have greece in 12th spot..
ukraine 18th
and bosnia 19th (lol)
they rank above them and if you think otherwise it's plain delusion.

guest_07 wrote:switzerland without xavi & fabregas kind of player can be in no. 8 in fifa ranking, why not catalonia?

Never underestimate Switzerland's defense and GKs. They are often able to shut out their opponents and if they just get that fluke goal then, they can even win. Mind you, they were the only team to win against Spain in the WC2010, and they even defeated Brazil and Germany (in friendlies) in 2013.

Bavaria would give them a run for their money.

the xcx wrote:Your all delusional to think with only notable players like Xavi and Fabregas would be an top 10 team.

Notables like Valdes, Piqué, Deulofeu, Bartra, Alba?

None of them are either decent or good enough to make a difference par Pique maybe but hes been shit for past 2 years now.

If Catalona do get there independence what year would it likely be, free cat? And if they do get independence will these players be forced to represent them or can they still choose to represent Spain?

As far as the team goes, Xavi is probably going to retire after WC 2014. The forward line lacks quality, with the exception that Deulofeu might become a world beater. Bojan is crap, Tello is meh, Sergio Garcia?

Busquets, Cesc and Sergi Roberto. The first 2 are world class and Sergi is decent. But Sergi doesn't seem to be getting much games at Barca and it will be worsened if Barca buy another CM.

Defence looks good on paper, Pique has been on and off form these past few years. Bartra will be sent down the pecking order once a new CB arrives at Barca, finding it hard to get games. Alba is great for Spain and Montoya is decent.

Valdes is good.

On paper, the team isn't that bad. Would probably rank them in the top 20 or so. However, football isn't played on paper and it would be difficult to make a decent opinion until they get independence and actually play official matches. They might be better than we expected or worse.

ExtremistEnigma wrote:

Valdes
Montoya - Pique - Bartra - Alba
Xavi - Busquets - Fabregas
Tello - Bojan - Deulofeu

Easily top 20 for me. Forwards suck but unarguably the best midfield out there.

Give me whatever he's having

Casciavit wrote:If Catalona do get there independence what year would it likely be, free cat? And if they do get independence will these players be forced to represent them or can they still choose to represent Spain?

I answered this question earlier in the thread.

What makes a Catalan? Residence? Then pretty much any cadet from Espanyols, Barcas academy would be elligible to join the new Catalan NT.

From what I understand, if Catalonia were to gain independance and start up a NT; then all players qualified would have to make a choice. They would get one chance to continue with there current NT or to play for the new Catalan NT. So even Iniesta, Pedro etc would be eligible to jump ship if they desired, since they've lived in Barcelona long enough to be eligble. Allot of players would have a serious decision to make. Just as easily players like Valdes or what not, could just as easily decide they wanted to stay with Spain (doubt it, but you get my drift. It would be an interesting transition)

the xcx wrote:None of them are either decent or good enough to make a difference par Pique maybe but hes been shit for past 2 years now.

Valdes, Piqué, Deulofeu, Bartra, Alba are not good enough to make a difference? Alba was running rampat at the Euros, Bartra is proven to possibly be on his way to be better than Pique (who even though is shit as you say, still can be solid with the right partner). Valdes has arguably been the most in form keeper in the world this season

A Catalan NT would be solid

guest_07 wrote:1. Spain
2. Germany
3. Argentina
4. Colombia
5. Portugal
6. Uruguay
7. Italy
8. Catalonia
9. Switzerland
10. Netherlands

Without Busquets and Xavi Spain would definitely be below Germany, they are too important for that team's chemistry. But it's true that Spain has ridiculous depth they might still be favorites for every tournament any way.

The strongest proposed XI doesn't look bad but theyd have to play that XI as there isnt too much depth otherwise.

Between 12-15. The attack isn't all that good and Xavi isn't as good as he was before either.

Deulofeu has the talent to become a world class player.
On the other wing you can play Tello/Cuenca/Bojan. The real problem that Catalonia don't have a World Class CF. Like Spain, they might naturalize a player like Diego Costa.

Valdes
Montoya Bartra Pique Alba
Xavi Busquets Cesc
Deulofeu/Cuenca CF Bojan/Tello

The team might not have depth, but when it comes to NTs. Depth doesn't really matter. They would only play 6-7 games in major tournaments. We're not talking about a whole season with 40-60 games like when it comes to clubs!

And you never know, players like Iniesta Pedro Thiago etc.. might choice to play for Catalunya [although I doubt that especially in Iniesta's case. If this happens next year for example, I think he might choose to retire from international football, he already won everything].

If were talking about Xavi in his prime, he could make this a top 3, or top 5 national side on his own.

Xavi's going to retire from international football after the world cup.

Interesting thread,I believe they would currently be top 20, but a few years ago with players like Puyol and prime Xavi they would have been top 10. I think that the "spanish" younger players nowadays (Isco, Koke, Carvajal, Nacho) + the basque ones (Inigo Martinez, Muniain) are better than the Catalan ones (except maybe Bartra who can become really good).

Hawky wrote:Interesting thread,I believe they would currently be top 20, but a few years ago with players like Puyol and prime Xavi they would have been top 10. I think that the "spanish" younger players nowadays (Isco, Koke, Carvajal, Nacho) + the basque ones (Inigo Martinez, Muniain) are better than the Catalan ones (except maybe Bartra who can become really good).

carvajal = Montoya
Inigo =< Bartra
Munian =< deulofeu
etc...

Isco and Koke are really good and better than the Catalan youngsters.
But, in 2-3 years when Catalunya might get there independence things might be different. Also, Busquets and Cesc are still young [Catalunya won't have problems with midfielders]. They should worry about Forwards, especially a Center Forward!

Yea, a Catalan NT would mainly only lack in the striker department.

I can't even think of a young promising striker to be honest

windkick wrote:Yea, a Catalan NT would mainly only lack in the striker department.

I can't even think of a young promising striker to be honest

At Barcelona B, all 3 promising Center Forwards aren't Catalan: Dongou, Sanabria or Sandro.

Vazquez was supposed to be good, he's now at Swansea (played few minutes this season).

Adama is Catalan, but is more a winger than a striker. There are plenty of young prospects at the wings from Catalonia...but what about a true forward?

I think Jonathan Soriano from Red Bull Salzburg could be decent up front with the quality that would be surrounding him. Sergio Garcia or Bojan backing him up off the bench wouldn't be the end of the world, given the amount of talent around them they might be able to get something done up front

Casciavit wrote:If Catalona do get there independence what year would it likely be, free cat? And if they do get independence will these players be forced to represent them or can they still choose to represent Spain?

Catalan parties have agreed to hold an independence referendum on 9th November 2014. It will be difficult to hold it because Spanish government doesn't want to allow it. However, if we do manage to hold the referendum and we win it, I don't think independence would be inminent. Scotland is holding a referendum on September 2014, and their plan is to become indepdendent 18 months aftewards. In our case, I think around a year would be in order, so probably around 2016 we would be independent.

In previous cases of countries becoming independent, players with double nationality are usually given the chance to represent the new country or stick with the old one. However, in most cases players change to the new one, at least this is what happened with Montenegro or other balkanik countries.

windkick wrote:Yea, a Catalan NT would mainly only lack in the striker department.

I can't even think of a young promising striker to be honest

Well, the 9th top scorer in the world in 2013 is catalan.... Jonathan Soriano with 37 goals in 2013.

In no particular order here are squads that are definitely stronger than Catalonia:

-Spain
-Netherlands
-Italy
-France
-Germany
-Brazil
-Argentina
-Chile
-Uruguay

Squads that might be stronger than Catalonia:
-USA
-Japan
-Ivory Cost
-Ghana
-Portugal
-England
-Sweden
-Switzerland
-Belgium

Hence, Catalonia are top 20 team for sure, and can break into the top 10 in a good year.