FCBARCELONA.CAT

23.03.2009 12:58

13 Barça players on international duty

www.fcbarcelona.cat

13 Barça first-team players are off on international duty this week for qualifying matches for the 2010 World Cup.

The Spanish League has been put on hold for international matches taking place between this coming Saturday and Wednesday next week in the qualifying stages for next year’s World Cup in South Africa. Barça’s contribution of 13 players makes it one of the teams with most internationals.

Iniesta and Touré out

Injuries picked up by Iniesta and Touré in the Malaga game mean neither player will be able to turn out for their national sides, though Touré will travel to Ivory Coast so that team doctors can have a look at him.

Xavi and Piqué doubtful

Xavi ended the Malaga game with a niggle and will travel to the Lao Rozas sports facility this Tuesday for a check-up with the Spanish team’s doctors. Hence it is still unknown if he’ll be able to turn out in the clash with Turkey in Madrid on Saturday or the return fixture between the two sides in Istanbul the following Wednesday. Gerard Piqué, who missed the game against Malaga through illness, is also doubtful and won’t join the squad until completely over it. Sergio Busquets, however, will travel.

Spot in South Africa

France and Henry will be taking on Lithuania on Saturday in Kaunas and on Wednesday at Saint-Denis. Gudjohnsen is also playing in a World Cup qualifying game against Scotland on Wednesday. Hleb will be playing a friendly with Belorussia in Turkey on Friday as a warm-up for Wednesday’s competitive fixture with Kazakhstan.

Eto'o and Keita

Eto'o and Keita have only one game with both playing on Saturday. The Cameroonian is playing Togo, while Keita turns out for Mali against Sudan.

Three South Americans

Alves, Messi and Martín Cáceres will be crossing the Atlantic for their qualifying matches. Messi and Martín Cáceres have a first game on Saturday as Argentina taken on Venezuela and Uruguay go head-to-head with Paraguay. Alves’s first game is on Sunday against Ecuador. On Wednesday the match-ups are Argentina v Bolivia and Uruguay v Chile, while Brazil play Peru.