FCBARCELONA.CAT

07.09.2007 13:52

Players On Five Continents

Sergi Nogueras

The break in the league season for international games has seen FC Barcelona travel around the world to play and the club will have stars in five different continents over the next week.

Earlier this week, the Barça squad left en masse as 15 players were called up by their countries to play in a total of 17 matches in ten different countries and on five different continents. The Catalan club will have representatives in games in Europe, Africa, Asia, Oceania and America.

Oceania

The furthest flung destination that will see Barça players appearing is Australia. Gabi Milito and Lionel Messi travelled down under to play in a game for Argentina against the Socceroos on Tuesday, September 11. The two players have already met up with the rest of the Albiceleste squad in Melbourne as they begin preparations for the match.

Asia

Bojan Krkic is in Asia, or more precisely South Korea, but he will not be able to play this weekend. The young striker, who has been the top goalscorer in the Under-17 World Championships for Spain, was sent off in the closing moments of the semi final against Ghana earlier this week and will now miss the final against Ghana on Sunday.

Africa

Touré Yaya is due to take part in just one game for the Ivory Coast as they take on Gabon in the final game of the African Nations' Cup qualifiers this Saturday. The Barça midfielder and his team-mates have to avoid being beaten by more than six goals to make it through to the tournament. The game is being played in Libreville, the capital of Gabon.

Europe

Deco, Andrés Iniesta, Lilian Thuram, Thierry Henry, Éric Abidal, Gianluca Zambrotta and Eidur Gudjohsen have all been called up by their respective natonal teams to play in the forthcoming Euro 2008 qualifiers. The Barcelona stars will travel to Iceland, Portugal, France and Italy respectively, while the Spanish players will also go to Oviedo for the match against Latvia in midweek.

America

Three Barça players will travel to Mexico or the United States. Giovani Dos Santos will play on Sunday in Puebla, Mexico, in a friendly against Panama, while Ronaldinho will play for Brazil against the United States in a game in Chicago on the same day. The Brazilian will then come face-to-face with Rafa Márquez when Mexico play A Seleção on Tuesday, September 12 on Boston.