Galicia national football team

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Galicia
Flag of Galicia.svg
Nickname(s) A Irmandiña [1] [2] (The Fellowship)
Association Real Federación Galega de Fútbol (RFGF)
Head coach Diego Martínez
Captain Álex Bergantiños
Top scorer Ramón Polo Pardo (8)
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Kit body genk1516a.png
Kit body.svg
Kit right arm.svg
Kit shorts.svg
Kit socks long.svg
First colours
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Second colours
First international
Flag of Galicia.svg  Galicia 4–1 Castile Flag of Castile.svg
(Vigo, Galicia; 19 November 1922)
Biggest win
Flag of Galicia.svg  Galicia 8–2 Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  Royal Navy XI
(Vigo, Galicia; 21 January 1923)
Biggest defeat
Flag of Galicia.svg  Galicia 1–3 Asturias  Flag of Asturias.svg
(Vigo, Galicia; 25 February 1923)

The Galicia national football team is the official football team of Galicia. It is organised by the Galician Football Federation. The team is not affiliated with FIFA or UEFA and is, therefore, only allowed to play friendly matches.

Contents

History

Early years

The first game of the Galician national football team took place on 19 November 1922 in Coia, Vigo, beating the Centro team (which encompassed Madrid and the wider Castile region) 41 in the quarter-finals of the 192223 Copa del Príncipe de Asturias, an official inter-regional tournament organized by RFEF;– This was at a time when there was no national club championship per se, Galician teams would play each other in the Galician Championship [3] and the winner would then go on to face the other regional champions in the Copa del Rey. Galicia then beat the South team in the semi-finals again by a score of 41, with the star of the game being local hero Ramón González. Their surprising campaign arose a wave of enthusiasm among the Galician fans, which prompted the Galician federation to organize several friendlies in January and February of 1923, as a warm-up for the final that would be held on the 25th February, and Galicia excelled, winning all 5 games with at least 3 goals scored in each, including an 8-2 win over an English Royal Navy XI and a 7-1 win over a Ferrol/A Coruña XI, the latter of which coming just 7 days before the final, with Ramón González showing great goalscoring form with a hat-trick, but unfortunately, he was unable to play in the final due to injury, and without him, they end up losing to Asturias 1-3, despite scoring first thanks to Balbino. [4] Three months later they lost for a second time, this time to a Lisbon XI (1-2). However, later political developments in Spain made it impossible for the Galicia national football team to take part in official competitions. Hence, after the Copa del Príncipe de Asturias was discontinued in 1924, all games were merely friendlies. The Galician national football team as such ceased all activity during the time of the Spanish Civil War and the subsequent dictatorship (1936–1975).

Revival in 2000s

Galicia vs. Ecuador, 28 December 2006. Galicia-Ecuador.jpg
Galicia vs. Ecuador, 28 December 2006.
Galicia vs. Cameroon, 27 December 2007. Jonathan Pereira seleccion galega.JPG
Galicia vs. Cameroon, 27 December 2007.

The project was retaken in the early 1980s, and the first match of the Galician national team after the dictatorship was about to be held on 24 July 1980 in Compostela against the Basque Country, but the players ended on holiday instead. In 1982, before the World Cup in Spain, there was an attempt to organize a match against Cameroon, but they failed to do so.[ citation needed ] Galicia had to wait 20 years to finally play again, facing the powerful Uruguay on 29 December 2005. Fernando Vázquez, a former Mallorca and Betis coach, was chosen as the coach, and he formed a Galicia XI who had the likes of Diego López, Ricardo Cabanas and José Luis Deus. The San Lázaro stadium was packed for the occasion and surprisingly, they found themselves 3-0 up with 10 minutes to go with goals from Deus (2) and Nano, and even though Uruguay scored two late goals in a 3-2 Galician win, the Galicia fans were very pleased with the team's performance. [5] In December 2006, another game was contested against Ecuador, played in Riazor in A Coruña and Galicia hold them to a 1–1 draw, and on the following year against Cameroon, the result was the same, with Cameroon equalizing only thanks to a last-minute penalty converted by Rigobert Song. Once again, in 2008, the Irmandiña played another friendly game, this time against Iran and they won 3–2 with goals from Nacho Novo (2) and Roberto Losada.

Amateur era

Changes in the composition of the Galician Government after the 2009 elections resulted in a lack of official support for the national team. However, the supporters' group Siareiros Galegos managed to organise a number of non-official international games involving Galician players from lower categories as a sign of protest, giving continuation to the project. These efforts were supported by a number of local governments, which would allow the use of their facilities. Galicia played teams representing Palestine, Western Sahara, Iraqi Kurdistan and Occitania in 2013. Siareiros Galegos announced at that time that it would be the last match until further notice due to the financial situation. [6] On 26 December 2015, however, Siareiros Galegos did set up yet another game, where Galicia faced players representing Senegal. [7]

Second revival

The current president of the FGF, Mr Louzán, days after the Senegal game, announced that the Federation would organise a first-level game again in 2016. It was mentioned that players from the top professional Galician teams, Deportivo and Celta, had lobbied in favour. [8] [9] A game was eventually held on 20 May in Riazor, where Galicia met Venezuela to a 1–1 draw. After the game, the Galician coaches mentioned the keen interest expressed by players to continue with the project and play more games on a regular basis. [10]

Official matches

19 November 1922 1922–23 Prince of Asturias Cup quarter-finals Galicia  Flag of Galicia.svg4–1Flag of Castile.svg Centro Vigo
Chiarroni Soccerball shade.svg
Polo Soccerball shade.svg
Pinilla Soccerball shade.svgpen.'
González Soccerball shade.svg
Report Monjardín Soccerball shade.svgStadium: Coia
Referee: Flag of Portugal.svg Ivo Lemes
14 January 1923 1922–23 Prince of Asturias Cup semi-finals South Flag of Andalucia.svg 1–4Flag of Galicia.svg  Galicia Seville
Kinké Soccerball shade.svg Report González Soccerball shade.svgSoccerball shade.svg
Polo Soccerball shade.svg
Chiarroni Soccerball shade.svg
Stadium: Reina Victoria
Referee: Flag of the Community of Madrid.svg Montero
25 February 1923 1922–23 Prince of Asturias Cup Final Galicia  Flag of Galicia.svg1–3Flag of Asturias.svg  Asturias Vigo
Balbino Soccerball shade.svg Report Meana Soccerball shade.svg
Zabala Soccerball shade.svgSoccerball shade.svg
Stadium: Coia
Referee: Flag of the Basque Country.svg Leclerc
25 November 1923 1923–24 Prince of Asturias Cup quarter-finals Central Spain Flag of Castile.svg1–0Flag of Galicia.svg  Galicia Madrid
De Miguel Soccerball shade.svg Report
Report2
Stadium: Ciudad Lineal
Referee: Flag of Catalonia.svg Agustín Cruella Tena

Friendly matches

7 January 1923 Friendly Galicia  Flag of Galicia.svg3–1 Flag of Lisbon.svg Lisbon XI Vigo
Polo Soccerball shade.svgSoccerball shade.svg
Reigosa Soccerball shade.svg
Stadium: Coia
Referee: Ventura Lago
21 January 1923 Friendly Galicia  Flag of Galicia.svg8–2Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  Royal Navy XI Vigo
Pinilla Soccerball shade.svgSoccerball shade.svg
González Soccerball shade.svg
Stadium: Coia
28 January 1923 Friendly Galicia  Flag of Galicia.svg4–1Pontevedra flag.svg Pontevedra XI Vigo
Correa Soccerball shade.svgSoccerball shade.svg
Polo Soccerball shade.svg
Chiarroni Soccerball shade.svg
Stadium: Campo de Bouzas
4 February 1923 Friendly Pontevedra XI Pontevedra flag.svg1–3Flag of Galicia.svg  Galicia Pontevedra
Pasarín Soccerball shade.svg
Chiarroni Soccerball shade.svgSoccerball shade.svg
Stadium: Pasarón
18 February 1923 Friendly Galicia  Flag of Galicia.svg7–1 Escudo de la provincia de A Coruna.svg Ferrol/A Coruña XI Vigo
González Soccerball shade.svgSoccerball shade.svgSoccerball shade.svg
Polo Soccerball shade.svgSoccerball shade.svg
Chiarroni Soccerball shade.svgSoccerball shade.svg
Stadium: Coia
27 May 1923 Friendly Lisbon XI Flag of Lisbon.svg 2–1Flag of Galicia.svg  Galicia Lisbon
João Francisco Soccerball shade.svg
Gonçalves Soccerball shade.svg
Pinilla Soccerball shade.svgStadium: Campo Grande
28 July 1929 Friendly Galicia  Flag of Galicia.svg0–0Flag of Castile.svg Central Spain Madrid
Stadium: Ciudad Lineal
1 June 1930 Friendly Galicia  Flag of Galicia.svg4–2600px Bianco e Verde orizzontale con leone Dorato.png Sporting CP Vigo
Losada Soccerball shade.svgSoccerball shade.svgSoccerball shade.svg
Polo Soccerball shade.svg
Stadium: Balaídos
8 June 1930 Friendly Central Spain Flag of Castile.svg1–4Flag of Galicia.svg  Galicia Madrid
Losada Soccerball shade.svgSoccerball shade.svg
Fariña Soccerball shade.svg
Hilario Soccerball shade.svg
Stadium: Chamartín
29 December 2005 Friendly Galicia  Flag of Galicia.svg3–2Flag of Uruguay.svg  Uruguay Santiago de Compostela
Nano Soccerball shade.svg9'
Deus Soccerball shade.svg48', 79'
Report Pereira Soccerball shade.svg83'
Albín Soccerball shade.svg90+1'
Stadium: San Lázaro
Attendance: 12,000
Referee: Bernardino González Vázquez (Galicia)
28 December 2006 Friendly Galicia  Flag of Galicia.svg1–1Flag of Ecuador.svg  Ecuador A Coruña
Jonathan Pereira Soccerball shade.svg68' Report Calle Soccerball shade.svg63'Stadium: Riazor
Attendance: 20,000
Referee: Bernardino González Vázquez (Galicia)
27 December 2007 Friendly Galicia  Flag of Galicia.svg1–1Flag of Cameroon.svg  Cameroon Vigo
Julio Álvarez Soccerball shade.svg73' Report Song Soccerball shade.svg90' (pen.)Stadium: Balaídos
Attendance: 28,000
Referee: Ignacio Iglesias Villanueva (Galicia)
27 December 2008 Friendly Galicia  Flag of Galicia.svg3–2Flag of Iran.svg  Iran A Coruña
20:45 Nacho Novo Soccerball shade.svg23', 59'
Losada Soccerball shade.svg66'
Report Borhani Soccerball shade.svg32'
Khalatbari Soccerball shade.svg82'
Stadium: Riazor
Attendance: 12,000
Referee: Ignacio Iglesias Villanueva (Galicia)
20 May 2016 Friendly Galicia  Flag of Galicia.svg1–1Flag of Venezuela (state).svg  Venezuela A Coruña
20:00 Aspas Soccerball shade.svg36' Report Martínez Soccerball shade.svg92'Stadium: Riazor
Attendance: 18,000
Referee: Ignacio Iglesias Villanueva (Galicia)
31 May 2024 Friendly Galicia  Flag of Galicia.svgvFlag of Panama.svg  Panama Vigo
Stadium: Balaídos

Statistics

Top Scorers

RankPlayerTeamGoals
1 Ramón Polo Pardo Flag of Galicia.svg  Galicia 8
2 Ramón González Flag of Galicia.svg  Galicia 7
José Chiarroni

Honours

UEFA Regions Cup:

Prince of Asturias Cup:

See also

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References

  1. O camiño que trae de volta a selección
  2. A Irmandiña (nickname of the team)
  3. Spain – List of Champions of Galicia, RSSSF
  4. 1 2 Vicente Martínez Calatrava (17 August 2009). "La Copa Príncipe de Asturias" [The Prince of Asturias Cup] (in Spanish). CIHEFE . Retrieved 5 June 2022.
  5. "Galicia vence a Uruguay en su debut" [Galicia beats Uruguay on their debut]. hemeroteca.mundodeportivo.com (in Spanish). Hemeroteca - MundoDeportivo.com. 30 December 2005. Retrieved 9 July 2022.
  6. "2015 Nin amigábel nin partido pola oficialidade" (in Galician). Praza.gal. Retrieved 7 June 2015.
  7. "Siareir*s Galeg*s recupera jogo da nossa selecçom nacional de futebol: Galiza-Senegal" (in Galician). diarioliberdade.org. Retrieved 7 January 2016.
  8. "Louzán anuncia un partido de la selección gallega en el 2016" (in Spanish). lavozdegalicia.es. Retrieved 7 January 2016.
  9. "Louzán anuncia que tamén haberá partido da selección galega feminina en 2016" (in Galician). crtvg.gal. Retrieved 7 January 2016.
  10. "Os dous seleccionadores destacan a calidade do combinado galego" (in Galician). FGF. Retrieved 21 May 2016.