You would imagine watching Spain, second only to Brazil in the world football rankings, would be all fun and fiesta. It's actually a bit quiet over here in Barcelona with the matches involving la selección - the national team - registering less than half the interest of an average Barca league game.

This is not surprising when a large minority of Catalans will support Anybody But Spain. The hardcore cheer on anybody who is playing against Spain. I saw them in Irish tops when Spain played Ireland in 2002. I didn’t see any Honduran tops this time but a sprouting of Chile flags and jerseys is a likely bet in some quarters for the final group match.

You will have seen the banner these anti-Spain fans display on European nights at Camp Nou. It reads: 'Catalonia Is Not Spain'. There is another minority who are proud to call themselves both Catalan and Spanish. They have formed a pressure group called Catalonia Is Spain. They have been complaining that Barcelona city council are not putting up any big screens around town for citizens to watch Spain’s progress.

Barcelona, the city, is hugely cosmopolitan with immigrants from all over Spain and the rest of the world. Barcelona, the football club, is inextricably linked with Catalan identity, up there with the language and the desire to extract as much dinero from the Spanish state coffers. So, it is not just a game.

The majority of Barca fans lend support to la selección, some more fervently than others. This is not difficult when half the team are Barca Catalans. No wonder hard-liners are clamouring for an independent Catalan side within FIFA.

Catalans are not the only antipathetic citizens. The pueblo - home town - and region comes before nation in many parts of Spain. I saw a Basque flag in the crowd at Johannesburg. But you can never be sure if that green version of the British flag is being waved in support or protest.

In this World Cup, Spain have been like their support: unconvincing. David Villa scored a stupendous goal which should have heralded a rout of modest Honduras. Instead Spain failed to close the deal in the penalty box and qualification remains problematic.

As I watched the Catalans watching Spain struggle, it was evident that a lot of the reaction was ironic and sardonic. Whether Spain manage to qualify in the final game on Friday, one thing is sure: afterwards, there will be dancing of some sort in the streets of Barcelona.