A total of 15,132 viewers attended the Mendizorrotza stadium in Vitoria-Gasteiz on 12 October, as did the Basque team in San Mamés two years ago. On the stands, however, there was a much better atmosphere than on that occasion, the mood was visibly more animated. Applause, then, the fans for having awakened the illusion for the project that we saw moribund two years ago.

The clash with Venezuela has been played on FIFA dates, which has also contributed to the fact that, in addition to achieving more impact, it is possible to play and demonstrate that the Basque team is able to beat its strongest rivals.

However, there have been some who have highlighted the “reprehensible attitude” of some amateurs, including a number of media outlets, including the Basque Government Minister for Culture, Bingen Zupiria, in a couple of tweets: “Almost full streaks. The lack of respect shown by some penalties. Much work will have to be done to get them to accept us internationally and there are behaviors that do not help. Thanks to the players [1]. I do not like to burn Spanish flags to proclaim the Basque Country Selekzioa, insult the political adversary, disrespect our symbols, beat Ajuria Enea and confuse non-sport issues with sports claims [2].

No, please, I do not want to continue to hear that we should not mix politics and sport. We will not re-explain the misleading message/will behind this slogan. Instead, the administration should explain what it will do and what it will do to make the Basque selection official. They may be engaged in very hard and dirty cooking work (which would in part prove to have enabled them to play on FIFA dates), but it gives the impression that it is not enough.

Jon Redondo, Director of Sports of the Basque Government, said in an interview published earlier this year in the Diario Vasco that Christmas parties make no sense and that the administration does not intend to return to it. He referred to a hypothetical five-nation championship and pointed out that in order to achieve international recognition it is essential to demonstrate that “we are a serious country with a strong team”, and that it is up to the Basque Federation to demand internationalization to include it.

It is not an easy road, as the case has many edges, as evidenced by the welcome sign “Euskadi” that the Navarros fans saw when they entered Mendizorroza, but it is not enough to win the game with the players’ goals.