To go against Spain

To go or not to go with Spain to the World Cup, that is the question. And like the Duponts, I would go further: to go or not to go against Spain (or in favor of the team playing against Spain), that is an even more thorny question.

In strictly footballing terms, that is, from a Barça perspective, the best thing is for our players to return having gone far, happy and having matured in the major competition. In 2010, we rejoiced for Xavi, Iniesta, Puyol, Piqué and company. And may they return safe and sound, of course. And that would be all.

Because the World Cup is the perfect mix of sport and politics. You only have to see that before the matches the anthems are played. Just ask the discriminated Iranian team, if the World Cup is not political. Or Spain's. According to this great reader of Marca who is Mariano Rajoy, la roja"is one of the few instruments of unity among Spaniards that we have today. And we need this unity, because those who have the obligation to do so have opted for the complete opposite, for dividing us." If they need unity, it is because they know they do not have it. And that the national team being the opposite of Pedro Sánchez already tells you where Spain has ended up with its overacted insecurities.

Imagine the opportunity cost for Catalonia that the world does not see that the star of the World Cup, Lamine Yamal, plays for our country. A player "made" at La Masia has to end up offering new glories to Spain by force, because if he refuses to go, he loses his license to play. Spain has never wanted to be the United Kingdom, with Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland competing officially. And this despite the fact that the Catalan Football Federation is older (1900) than the Spanish one (1913). So when your national team cannot play, you have a lot to choose from but little to cheer about.