Thursday, April 10, 2014

Corsica National Football (Soccer) Team

Since Corsica is not officially a country, it also does not officially have a national football team.  However, though it is not recognized by FIFA (Federation of International Football Associations) or UEFA (Union of European Football Associations), Corsica does have a national squad.  Football, or what we in America call Soccer, is the most popular sport in both the world and in Europe.  Since Corsica's national football team was founded in 1967, the French territory has only played in six games against other countries.  Corsica's national team colors are black and white.    

In 1967, Corsica faced France in Marseille and came out on the winning end capturing a 2-0 victory.  In 1998, Corsica was defeated by the African nation of Cameroon by the final score of 1-0.  In 2009, Corsica tied Congo 1-1.  In 2010, during the Corsica Football Cup, Corsica beat Brittany 2-0 and were also winners of a game versus Gabon that was decided by penalty kicks.  This tournament featured host nation Corsica along with Brittany, Gabon and Togo.  Corsica were the winners of the tournament.  Corsica's most recent match was in 2011 against Bulgaria as they defeated the European side 1-0.  The cities of Ajaccio and Bastia have been host to every one of Corsica's home games during the national teams existence.

Corsica vs. Bulgaria in 2011 - (Source: http://www.novinite.com/media/images/2011-05/photo_verybig_128664.jpg)

Jean Baptiste-Pierazzi, midfielder for the Corsican national football team, currently plays for the San Jose Earthquakes from the United States of America's Major League Soccer (MLS) western conference.    

Jean Baptiste-Pierazzi (left) of the Corsican National Football team
playing for the San Jose Earthquakes in a MLS match vs. the
Los Angeles Galaxy.
(Source: https://fbcdn-sphotos-b-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-frc1/t1/1921923_661407063898559_1982701617_n.jpg)
Additionally, two club teams from Corsica are beginning to gain prominence and recognition in France's premier football league (Ligue 1).  These squads, AC Ajaccio and SC Bastia have the fate of Corsican football in their hands.  According to When Saturday Comes, an online football magazine, "if Corsican football is to progress, then both teams must stay in the top division, and both must work on their infrastructure at the grass-roots level."  As seen in the pictures below, both of the two teams' "logos" feature the Corsican crest.  

AC Ajaccio
SC Bastia
Pictures:
AC Ajaccio - http://www.go-to-corsica.com/images/eve148.jpg
SC Bastia - http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/6/6e/SC_Bastia_(shield).png

Sources:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corsica_national_football_team
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jean-Baptiste_Pierazzi
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2010_Corsica_Football_Cup
http://www.wsc.co.uk/the-archive/18-letter-from/2570-corsica


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