FCBARCELONA.CAT

12.10.2007 16:24

League makes way for internationals

www.fcbarcelona.cat

FC Barcelona have 12 players away on international duty this weekend as the league action stops to make way for European Championship and World Cup qualifiers.

Deco, Xavi, Carles Puyol, Andrés Iniesta, Lilian Thuram, Éric Abidal, Thierry Henry, Eidur Gudjohnsen, Lionel Messi, Diego Milito, Ronaldinho and Giovani Dos Santos are all with their national teams.

Euro Ambitions

Eight Blaugrana players are ready to participate in Euro 2008 qualifiers. Deco is set to play for Portugal against Azerbaijan in the Republic Stadium in Baku.

Iniesta, Xavi and Puyol were called up by Luis Aragonés for Spain's crucial encounter with Denmark in Aarhus, while Thuram, Abidal and Henry will play in the Torshavn stadium in Torsvollur against the Faroe Islands for France.

Iceland take on Latvia in a game that will see Gudjohnsen appear in the lower echelons of Group F.

Road to the World Cup

Argentina, Brazil and Mexico are all playing in World Cup qualifiers. Messi and Gabi Milito are set to play for the Albiceleste against Chile as they start out on the long road towards South Africa in 2010.

Ronaldinho has travelled to join up with the Brazil squad ahead of thei match against Colombia, while Dos Santos will play in a friendly international for Mexico against Nigeria.