FCBARCELONA.CAT

28.03.2007 11:30

Latest international games

On Wednesday evening Barça’s international players will play their last match with the national teams before returning to club duty. Six of the eight Barça’s players in action this evening will be involved in qualification games for Euro 2008.

This Wednesday sees the last action of the international week with eight Barça players in involved in qualifying and friendly games. Ronaldinho and Eto’o have already played with their national teams and tonight it is the turn of Xavi, Puyol and Iniesta who come up against Gudjohnsen. Zambrotta and ‘Gio’ are also involved in qualifying games while Márquez and Thuram will take part in friendly games with Mexico and France respectively.

Duel of Barça players

The Spain versus Iceland match tonight (22h00, TVE-1) sees Xavi, Puyol and Iniesta take on team mate Eidur Gudjohnsen. The game will see a direct contest between the Icelandic striker ‘Guddy’ and defender Puyol. The Spanish team badly need a win to keep their hopes alive in Group F and stay in contention for one of the qualification places on offer for Euro 2008.

Zambrotta plays versus Scotland

Italy will tonight play Scotland in their only game of the international week. Zambrotta is expected to be in the starting line-up in the match that will take place in Bari (20h50). Like Spain, Italy need the three points as a defeat would severely damage qualification hopes from a group B led by France and Scotland. The current world champion are 5 points adrift of the joint leaders.

Gio, leads Holland

‘Gio’ Van Bronckhorst will lead Holland in a Euro 2008 qualification game against Slovenia. The Dutch lead Group G with 11 points, followed by Romania and Bulgaria with 8. Although they lead the group, the Dutch will be keen to win tonight against the Slovenes considering that Romania and Bulgaria could capitalise on any slip-up.

Friendlies for France and Mexico

Thuram is in action with France in a friendly match against Euro 2008 co-hosts Austria (21h00). Elsewhere Mexico continue preparations for this summer’s Copa America with a friendly match against Ecuador in Oakland.