04.02.2008 13:03
Friendlies for Barça’s internationals
www.fcbarcelona.cat
A total of 10 first team players have been called up by their national sides to play in this week’s international friendlies.
The friendlies mark the start of preparations for Euro 2008 in Austria and Switzerland to be played
this summer. There are some very attractive fixtures featuring Barça players lined up between sides
that will be vying for the title.
Getting ready for Euro 2008
Iniesta, Xavi and Bojan, who has been called up for the first time, will
be playing for Spain against a French side featuring Thuram, Abidal and Henry. The game, to be
played in Malaga’s La Rosaleda on Wednesday, will give both sides a work-out before next
summer’s Euro 2008.
In another warm up friendly Italy with Zambrotta and Portugal with Deco are going head to
head in a match featuring Europe’s top two teams. The club has however asked for Deco not to
play too big a part in the friendly in order not to put too much stress on his abductor muscles.
Márquez and Giovani in Houston
The two players making the longest trips are the Mexicans Márquez and
Giovani, who will be turning out for their national side in a friendly against the USA in Houston.
Messi, Milito and Ronaldinho are staying put
The Argentineans Messi and Milito and the Brazilian Ronaldinho, who
normally play for their national sides, will not be travelling and so will be able to devote all
their time to this weekend’s League fixture at Sevilla.
Ronaldinho and Messi are both just back from injury and so haven’t been called up. Gabi
Milito has not been selected for Argentina as the friendly against Guatemala will be played by the
Argentine side for the Beijing Olympic Games.
Touré and Eto'o, at the African Cup of Nations
Touré Yaya and Samuel Eto'o are still playing in the African Cup of Nations with their
national sides. Touré and the Ivory Coast are already through to the semi-finals of the tournament
where they will meet up with hosts Ghana. Cameroon, for whom Eto'o has already notched 5 goals, are
playing their quarter-final match with Tunisia today.