FCBARCELONA.CAT

23.03.2007 10:00

On international duty

European Championship and African Nations' Cup qualifiers resume again on Saturday and Barça have a host of players involved with their countries. Rijkaard will also be without his stars at the start of next week as the action continues on Wednesday.

Xavi, Andrés Iniesta, Carles Puyol, Lilian Thuram, Gianluca Zambrotta, Gio Van Bronckhorst, Eidur Gudjohnsen, Samuel Eto'o, Ronaldinho and Rafael Márquez are all away on international duty and will be out of Barcelona until Thursday.

Ronaldinho kicks things off

The first player in action is set to be Ronaldinho when Brazil take on Chile in a friednly in Gothenburg (live on La Sexta). The game is being used as preparation for the Copa America, which takes place this summer in Venezuela. The Brazilians then face Ghana in Stockholm on Tuesday.

Four Barça stars in Euro 2008 action

Four Barça stars are preparing to play on Saturday in Euro 2008 qualifiers. Xavi and Iniesta could play tonight for Spain (22:00 CET, TVE1) against Denmark. Luis Aragonés' side are currently fifth in Group F and cannot afford to drop any points in the game in the Bernabéu. Puyol was set to miss th game through suspension, before he had to leave the set-up to return home after the death of his grandfather. The Blaugrana skipper will return on Sunday.

Van Bronckhorst is due to play for the Netherlands in their qualifier against Romania (20:30, Teledeporte) in Rotterdam. A victory would move the Dutch six points clear of third in Group G. Thuram is also playing as he represents France in their match against Lithuania (18:00, Eurosport). The French level on points with Scotland at the top of Group B.

Eto'o in Cameroon

In the African Nations' Cup, Eto'o is set to play for Cameroon in their match against Liberia (15:30) and Márquez will appear for Mexico in Monterrey as they take on Paraguay in a friendly (22:00).