FCBARCELONA.CAT

15.10.2009 12:46

Nine through to World Cup, three more in playoffs

Jordi Clos

The 2010 World Cup qualifiers are drawing to a close, and nine Barça players are through to the finals, three are in the playoffs and just two have seen their countries eliminated.

Now the group stages are over, Piqué, Puyol, Busquets, Iniesta, Xavi, Alves, Messi, Márquez and Touré, assuming they are selected, all have their World Cup places confirmed. Henry, Abidal and Chygrynskiy will all have to go through the playoff process in order to secure slots in South Africa, while Ibrahimovic’s Sweden and Keita’s Mali have been eliminated.

Spain ten out of ten

Spain have had an incredible World Cup qualification, with Piqué, Puyol, Busquets, Iniesta and Xavi featuring prominently. Having won the European Championship, they then won every one of their ten games in Group 5 to qualify in astonishing style.

Brazil and Argentina, OK

Five time champions Brazil, with Alves, ended top of the South American group with 34 points. Leo Messi’s Argentina had it harder and left it until their last game, a 1-0 win away to Uruguay, to secure fourth place and avoid elimination or having to go into a playoff.

Touré and Márquez ease through

Mexico, captained by Rafa Márquez, had no major worries in the North American section, eventually qualifying in second place behind the United States. The Ivory Coast also made it through easily. Touré Yaya’s side are runaway leaders in African Group and with one game to go, Burkina Faso are four points adrift and cannot catch the Elephants.

France and Ukraine still waiting

Eight European runners up now go into the draw for the playoffs. These include France (including Henry and Abidal), second behind Serbia in Group 7, and Chygrynskiy’s Ukraine, who pipped Croatia to second place in Group 6.

The other sides in the home and away playoffs are Portugal, Greece, Slovenia, Russia, Bosnia and Ireland. The draw ill be made on Monday.

Ibra and Keita out

Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Seydou Keita will be watching the World Cup from home. Sweden only finished third in their group behind Denmark and Portugal, while Ghana approved too good for Mali, who can no longer make up the four-point deficit that divides them.