FCBARCELONA.CAT

16.11.2007 11:14

Crucial matches ahead

Sergi Nogueras

There are two international match days this week and 13 Barcelona players are involved in some crucial encounters. 7 of the players have places at Euro 2008 to fight for.

For Henry, Abidal, Thuram, Xavi, Iniesta, Puyol and Zambrotta the hour of reckoning has arrived. France, Spain and Italy have to fight for their places at Euro 1008 on November 17 and 21. The tournament proper starts in Switzerland and Austria on June 7.

‘Les bleus’ in pole position

The French side may even qualify before they have to play. Henry, Thuram and Abidal will be through if Italy can win away to Scotland on Saturday. France have a friendly at Saint Denis against Morocco on Friday and then travel to the Ukraine on Wednesday, although there is a chance that the game will be a mere formality.

Spain almost there

Xavi, Puyol and Iniesta have their decisive match at 22.00 on Saturday night at the Santiago Bernabéu against Sweden. The side coached by Luis Aragonés has three Barça players in it, and only needs one point from the game with the Scandinavian outfit. Even if they slip up, they have a game against Northern Ireland on the 21st where they will have a second chance to assure qualification.

Bojan is also in action with the Under 21 side that faces Poland on Friday at 20.00. This is also a European qualifier and is being played in Ponferrada.

Zambrotta gunning for glory

As well as the crunch game with Scotland in Glasgow, Zambrotta’s Italy also has a Wednesday fixture with the Faeroe Islands. The world champions need to win both games to be sure of making the finals.

Nothing to play for

The other Barça players are involved in games where there is little at stake. Touré will be playing for the Ivory Coast on Saturday in a friendly with Angola, in the town of Melun, 60 kilometres outside of Paris. They will then fly out to face the Qatari national side. Gudjohnsen’s Iceland play Denmark on Wednesday, but they have no hope of qualifying.

World Cup for the Americans

Milito, Messi and Ronaldinho have 2010 World Cup finals places to play for. Argentina play Bolivia on the 17th in Buenos Aires and Colombia on the 20th in Bogotá. Meanwhile, Brazil take on Peru in Lima on the 18th and then Uruguay on the 21st in Sao Paulo.