FCBARCELONA.CAT

26.06.2010 12:23

Barca players feature big time in first phase

Jordi Clos

The Barca players at the World Cup have had an important part to play in the phase of the tournament, with only Victor Valdes not featuring at all.

Eleven of the fourteen players from the club who went to the finals are through to the next stage and David Villa is joint top-scorer.

French players Thierry Henry and Éric Abidal as well as Touré Yaya for the Ivory Coast are already on holiday after their countries failed to make the knock out stage, whilst Messi, Alves, Márquez, Puyol, Piqué, Iniesta, Xavi, Busquets, Pedro, Villa and Valdés are through to the last 16.

THIERRY HENRY (FRANCE): 2 games / 53 minutes / 0 goals / 4 shots / 1 foul / 0 yellow cards / 19 passes.

Raymond Domenech brought his captain off the bench in their first and third games.

ÉRIC ABIDAL (FRANCE): 2 games / 180 minutes / 0 goals / 0 shots / 3 fouls / 1 yellow card / 114 passes.

Abidal featured as a central defender in France’s first two games and gave away a penalty.

TOURÉ YAYA (IVORY COAST): 3 games / 270 minutes / 1 goal / 5 shots / 5 fouls / 0 yellow cards / 209 passes.

A regular in the African team’s midfield, Touré scored a great opening goal in the final game against North Korea.

LEO MESSI (ARGENTINA): 3 games / 270 minutes / 0 goals / 20 shots / 2 fouls / 0 yellow cards / 217 passes.

Perhaps the tournament’s best player so far, he captained the Argentinean team in their final group game, but despite all his best efforts he’s yet to score.

DANI ALVES (BRASIL): 3 games / 130 minutes / 0 goals / 7 shots / 1 foul / 0 yellow cards / 122 passes.

Dunga has been playing him on the right of midfield, giving him more influence in attack than in defence and the injury to Elano has given him more chances to shine.

RAFA MÁRQUEZ (MEXICO): 3 games / 270 minutes / 1 goal / 5 shots / 6 fouls / 0 yellow cards / 194 passes.

Marquez has been playing just in front of the back four and scored in the first game against South Africa.

CARLES PUYOL (SPAIN): 3 games / 270 minutes / 0 goals / 1 xut / 2 fouls / 0 yellow cards / 141 passes.

Forming a solid partnership with Piqué at the heart of the Spanish defence, Puyol has committed just 4 fouls in 3 games.

GERARD PIQUÉ (SPAIN): 3 games / 270 minutes / 0 goals / 4 shots / 2 fouls / 0 yellow cards / 211 passes.

Charged with bringing the ball out from the back, Piqué has had an impeccable tournament so far.

ANDRÉS INIESTA (SPAIN): 2 games / 167 minutes / 1 goal / 5 shots / 2 fouls / 0 yellow cards / 104 passes.

After missing Spain’s second game with an injury he was the team’s most decisive influence and scored in the decisive match with Chile.

XAVI HERNÁNDEZ (SPAIN): 3 games / 246 minutes / 0 goals / 1 shot / 2 fouls / 0 yellow cards / 263 passes.

Nobody has made as many passes as Xavi has controlled the Spanish midfield.

SERGIO BUSQUETS (SPAIN): 3 games / 241 minutes / 0 goals / 1 shot / 4 fouls / 0 yellow cards / 210 passes.

Busquets is being used as a defensive midfielder, tidying up and distributing to the rest of the team. Del Bosque publically praised him after the team’s second game.

PEDRO RODRÍGUEZ (SPAIN): 1 game / 13 minutes / 0 goals / 1 shot / 0 fouls / 0 yellow cards / 12 passes.

Made his official debut against Switzerland as Spain laid siege to their opponents’ area in an attempt to peg back the Swiss goal.

DAVID VILLA (SPAIN): 3 games / 270 minutes / 3 goals / 12 shots / 2 fouls / 0 yellow cards / 104 passes.

Spain’s main attacking option, Villa has scored three times so far, making him the tournament’s joint leading scorer – and that despite missing a penalty against Honduras!

VÍCTOR VALDÉS (SPAIN): 0 games

Has had no chance to participate as yet, with Iker Casillas occupying the Spanish goalkeeper’s spot.