Barcelona vs. Spain's National Team: Who Would Win If They Played Each Other?

Barcelona vs. Spain. Who ya got?

One is the all-conquering, historically excellent overlord of international football. The other has pretty much all the same players, plus Lionel Messi.

So, who would win if they played each other?

OK, OK, so this is something of a nonsensical argument. Several members of FC Barcelona also play for the Spanish national team, and as Jean-Claude Van Damme taught us back in the '90s, "same matter cannot occupy same space."

That's not going to stop us, though.

We're setting out to decide who would win a match between Barcelona and Spain if the laws of time, space, physics and the movie Timecop were no hindrance.

NOTE: I've used Spain's Euro 2012 team and included Jordi Alba as a Barcelona player based on his recent signing.

Goalkeepers

We start with an easy comparison: the goalkeepers

For Spain, it's Iker Casillas, who has won the World Cup, two European titles and everything at the club level as a starting keeper.

For Barcelona, it's Victor Valdes. Yes, Victor Valdes.

Edge: Spain

Score: Barcelona 0, Spain 1

Defenders

This is a little tricky.

Spain's defense at Euro 2012 featured one current Barcelona player in Gerard Pique, one soon-to-be Barca player in Jordi Alba and two Real Madrid players in Alvaro Arbeloa and Sergio Ramos.

Assuming Alba slots into the left-back slot at Barca, the Blaugrana's back four could now be Alba, Pique, Carles Puyol and Dani Alves.

Again, this is a tough choice, but when you combine the attacking talents of Alves and the experience of Puyol with Pique and Alba, there's really only one answer.

Edge: Barcelona

Score: Barcelona 1, Spain 1

Midfielders

Again, this is tricky. This time, that's mostly because the two sets of players are remarkably similar.

Spain's first-choice three-man midfield at Euro 2012 was Xabi Alonso, Sergio Busquets and Xavi Hernandez. Busquets and Xavi obviously play for Barcelona.

In Barca's midfield, we're more likely to see Andres Iniesta, who played a more advanced role for Spain.

So, who has the edge?

Edge: Push

Score: Barcelona 2, Spain 2

Forwards

Spain's Euro 2012 roster did actually feature forwards, not that Vicente del Bosque would let you know it. Most of the time, Spain played with six midfielders in an experimental 4-3-3 or 4-6-0 formation.

Who needs strikers, right?

Regardless, we'll put Fernando Torres, Alvaro Negredo and Cesc Fabregas into the mix.

Barcelona, on the other hand, have Lionel Messi. There are a bunch of other good names—like Cesc, Alexis Sanchez and Pedro—but, really, what's the point?

Edge: Barcelona

Score: Barcelona 3, Spain 2

Intangibles

Rosters and stats aren't everything. Some factors cannot be measured so easily.

For instance, Barcelona's players have been a unit longer than the Spanish national team. They know how to work together and have developed an understanding amongst themselves.

On the other hand, there's nothing quite like playing for one's country. So, while the players give everything for Barcelona, they might be able to find just a bit more when representing Spain.

Edge: One intangible point for each.

Final score: Barcelona 4, Spain 3.

Spain's Euro 2012 triumph was historic, and Vicente del Bosque's men are correctly considered one of the best international sides of all-time. But Barcelona have a slight edge in personnel and on account of the fact that they've played together longer.

What do you think? Leave me your opinions in the comments.

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