Football Special Report: Which is the greater team- Barcelona or Spain
The question might seem a strange one given that one team plies its trade at club level, while the other is an international team, which has just won the World Cup and unified Spain like club football never can (in fact, club football actually polarizes and creates fractures – the immense, cultural, bordering on political rivalry of Barcelona and Real Madrid is a case in point). Yet in the aftermath of the world cup win and the almost invincible form of Barcelona in the last few years at club level, it is interesting to note which team could be stronger on paper.
The similarities between the two teams are uncanny. Both have a link to Spain (one plays in the country, the other plays for the country,) both have been the beneficiary of the ways of Total Football through the Dutch methods of maestro Johann Cruyff. Both the teams are renowned for their beautiful football, which makes extensive use of tiki-taka and both teams have been incredibly successful during the last few years. Spain won the Euro and now the World cup, while Barcelona won 6 trophies in a season including a Champions League which is a competition considered the toughest, even more so than the World Cup.
It goes without saying that the set of players in both teams are almost the same. What one would want to look at is, from a playing squad point of view, which team lines up better. Yes, Barcelona has 7 players in the Spanish side from if you look at the rest (and even consider the roles played in their respective teams), it makes for a very interesting comparison. Before the comparison can be begun, it must be mentioned that the Spanish team used in the recently concluded world cup included 7 players from the Catalan giants as mentioned, 3 from Real Madrid and one from Villareal. The question is, collectively, which team seems more potent on paper. The players who play for both Barcelona and Spain in the starting line up will be compared first. It is assumed that both teams play a 4-3-3. David Villa, after his transfer from Valencia is also being considered a Barcelona player and given the less-than-stellar-form of Zlatan Ibrahimovic, he is included.
Defence – Pique/Puyol: the pair have been immense for both club and country and play very similar roles in both teams. What is interesting is that they are more vulnerable at club level than international level. As will be discussed later, this is down to change of personnel in the back four and the midfield and the fact that international football is more tactical and slow-paced which favours both of these players (they cannot be considered fast by any stretch of the imagination)
Midfield – Xavi, Busquets: Both players occupy the same places at club and international level. The difference to their style of play will discussed when the changes are discussed.
Forward three – Villa, Pedro – played similar roles in both teams
Only Andres Iniesta of all the players in the Spanish side plays a slightly different role for his club side Barcelona. Whereas, he is part of the trident in the Spanish side, he is used in the midfield slot at Barcelona to create a slot up front for a certain World Player of the Year. What this tactical switch does is it increases the creativity/technical proficiency of Barcelona compared to a loss of a midfielder (Xabi Alonso) who can play a holding role alongside Busquets. Because Spain has two holding midfielders, they are tougher to break down and their back four is relatively well protected. Iniesta is a brilliant player but defensively, he is not as stellar, which makes Barcelona a little weak on the counter, as shown as Inter Milan. On the flip side of course, they are a much more attacking side going forward.
Now the rest of the players will be compared.
Goalkeeper – Iker Casillas & Victor Valdes – As good as Valdes was last season, Casillas’ form in the World Cup and his general brilliance for ages puts him as a better candidate in this slot
Right back – Sergio Ramos & Dani Alves – Very tough to call. Both are attacking and great players and bring verve and energy. Both are defensively suspect in their position while Ramos is great at headers and Alves at delivering set pieces. Think this would be a draw.
Left-back – Joan Capdevila & Maxwell – Another tough call with both players, the least spectacular in their respective teams. However, Capdevila wins out because he is a little more solid defensively and can whip in a good free kick as well.
Xabi Alonso & Lionel Messi – This is a very unfair comparison to make because they play in different roles and are completely different players. However, they are the only odd ones out because of Iniesta’s change of position at Barcelona. In that respect, if you think about it – just add the best player in the world with the best team in the world - that makes for a scary thought indeed.
The bench should be kept out of the analysis because even though Barcelona has Ibrahimovic, Keita, Bojan for themselves, Spain has Torres, Fabregas, Navas, Martinez, Reina and David Silva.
Hence, based on the first team, the Spanish team is better in goal and left back slightly while Barcelona are better in attack. The right back slot can be considered equal. Which team is better? It still is a tricky call to make. It is one a football fan can always dream up of themselves.
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