FCBARCELONA.CAT

07.06.2010 12:58

Barça’s World Cup

Jordi Clos

Barça is sending more players to the World Cup than any other club. At the last minute, Chelsea have slumped from 19 to possible 11.

This will be the most Barca-influenced World Cup finals ever with as many as 14 Barca stars of six different nationalities guaranteed a place in their respective national squads. Eight of these players learnt their trade in the Barca youth academy. The total would have been even higher if Jonathan dos Santos had made the final cut for Mexico.

14 Barca players

The Barça players who will represent their country are: newcomers Valdés and Pedro, Piqué, Puyol, Busquets, Xavi, Iniesta and latest signing David Villa (Spain); Abidal and Henry (France); Messi (Argentina), Dani Alves (Brazil); Touré Yaya (Ivory Coast); and Márquez (Mexico).

Chelsea lose out

Before the final 23-man squads were announced last week, Chelsea topped the ranking of players provisionally selected for the World Cup with 19. However, for a variety of reasons, this number has now fallen to 11: Ashley Cole, Joe Cole, Terry, Lampard, Anelka, Kalou, Carvalho, Ivanovic, Malouda, Deco and Paulo Ferreira. Meanwhile, Didier Drogba remains a doubt due to an arm injury. Hilario (Portugal), Matic (Serbia), Alex (Brazil), Bosingwa (Portugal), Ballack (Germany), Essien (Ghana) and Obi Mikel (Nigeria) all failed to make the final cut.