FCBARCELONA.CAT

31.08.2007 19:54

14 Barça players get international call-ups

Roger Bogunyà

Barça will once again be missing the bulk of the first team squad next week. No fewer than 14 players have been called upon for international duty.

After the latest international squads were announced, Frank Rijkaard now knows that he will be without 14 players next week.

Four in friendlies

Only four of those players will be playing friendly matches. These are Ronaldinho (Brazil will play the USA and Mexico), Giovani dos Santos (Mexico play Panama and in the aforementioned Brazil match) and Milito and Messi will be in the Argentine squad that faces Australia.

Ten competitive matches

Most of the players have official qualification matches to play in. Xavi and Iniesta will be representing Spain against Iceland and Latvia, while Thuram, Henry and Abidal will all be playing in the huge match (and a repeat of last year’s World Cup Final) against Italy (and Zambrotta), with Scotland to come a few days later. The Italian full back also has a Euro 2008 qualifier against Ukraine next week.

Gudjohnsen, who is now fully fit again, will be facing Xavi and Iniesta in one game, and then faces Northern Ireland. Deco also has two qualifiers ahead of him, both in Portugal, and they’re tough ones, against Poland and Serbia.

Ivorian Touré Yaya, who scored such a delightful goal in the Gamper, will be playing in an African Nations Cup qualifier against Gabon, but that is his only game, so he will be back in Barcelona on September 10, with the rest of squad not due back until the 13th.

World Under 17 Cup

Bojan is also away, of course, at the Under 17 World Cup, which started on August 13, is still going on. He’s having a top tournament, having scored four goals, with Spain’s next game against France at the quarter final stage.