Barça players and the International Break: this time we swear in French

By: Ade C. | November 19th, 2009

So this is it, boys and girls, the end of international break. Let’s hear that sigh of relief and the raucous celebrations because (with the exception of Touré and Keita leaving for the African Cup), our boys are home to stay until the next year at least.

And what did this day of friendlies and World Cup playoffs leave us? Well, an image I wouldn’t have believed possible, for a start.

“Yes, it was a handball,” said Thierry Henry of this. No kidding, Tití. No. Kidding.

Thierry Henry (and Eric Abidal, who is nursing his thigh injury in Barcelona) got their golden World Cup Ticket thanks to a highly-questionable move by our French striker, who handled the ball (twice, if you at the video closely) to set a goal that Arsenal’s William Gallas slipped past the Irish goalkeeper. My theory is that he had his eyes closed and that the ultra-tight new French kits had cut off blood flow and feeling in his upper limbs, so he really didn’t realise that he was playing volleyball for a moment. That’s my story and I’m sticking to it.

“I will be honest, it was a handball. But I’m not the referee,” said Thierry after the match, shrugging in infinitely French fashion. “It’s a f***ing disgrace,” said… oh, no, wait, wrong one. “The hand was so obvious, we’re disgusted. FIFA absolutely did not want Ireland at World Cup,” fumed Robbie Keane in response. The Irish have a good reason to complain, but… c’est la vie (see what I did there?).

On other, less red-card-worthy news… oh, no, forget it. We’re still thinking of red cards, particularly of the one that Pehlivan got yesterday during the first half of the friendly game between Austria and Spain (in the same stadium that saw La Roja win their European Cup last year) for a foul on our dear Sergi Busquets. Our midfielder gave as good as he got, however, but after he was subbed off in the second half he was seen with a pack of ice firmly held to his knee. I’d be grateful if you could stand up now and perform the solemn Please, Dear Gods of Football, No Friendly Injuries dance. Thank you.

I think I’m getting used to the sight of Barça players writhing in pain on the ground.

Now, if you’ve caught your breath from your vigorous dancing, let me tell you that Vicente del Bosque was kind enough not to play Piqué or Puyol, but Buquets, Xavi and Iniesta were in the starting XI. Don Andrés set the second goal for Villa to slip past the Austrian goalkeeper, Xavi lorded over the midfield, and Busi… well, Busi was not bad, fouling and backpassing to his heart’s content; to be honest, I’m happy that Del Bosque is playing him so much, because I think that way he can get more experience and make mistakes that hopefully he will not then repeat when dressed in blaugrana. Spain went on to win 1-5, with Busi being subbed off in the second half for Athletic’s Iraola, Xavi for Valencia’s Pablo H. and Iniesta for Sevilla’s Navas.

Oh, and before I forget, Chygrinskiy and Ukraine did not get into the World Cup, being knocked out on a match that a gritty Greece won in Donetsk, a match that our Jesus Christ Superstar lookalike didn’t play.

This makes it eleven Barça players that will be playing in South Africa next summer: Xavi, Iniesta, Puyol, Piqué and Busquets for Spain, Leo Messi for Argentina, Dani Alves for Brasil, Yaya Touré for Côte D’Ivoire, Thierry Henry and Eric Abidal for France, and Rafa Márquez for México. And, even though the list of countries is not going to change, we could sneak a further player in this list, if Vicente del Bosque listens to the screams of “Pinto Selección” that can be heard in some matches at the Camp Nou. No, I’m not joking… not about the screams, I’m not, but it’s our underrated (or overrated, depending on which side of the fence you’re sitting on) Víctor Valdés who is rumoured to have chances at *finally* being called for La Roja after Diego López’s latest disappointing performances. We’ll see.

Ah, isn’t this a sight for sore eyes?

And, on even happier news, we have the joyous return of Gabi Milito to the field! The Argentinean defender played a full 45 minutes of the friendly that Barça played against Bolívar (a Bolivian team) yesterday, and that a hodgepodge of first-team players and boys from the Juvenil B won 4-1. “It’s been a very special day,” said Gabi, who was watched from the stands by Txiki. “I’m making progress though I’m still in the recovery phase. I’m still not ready for a competitive match. How long? I don’t know yet but it won’t be long”. After 19 months laid up, Gabi, I think we can wait another few weeks to make sure you’re alright.

And with this, international break is over and is business as usual for Barça, who will start training today in the afternoon for our match against Athletic de Bilbao this weekend.

But wait, what is that I hear? Oh no! According to Mundo Deportivo, Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s ischiotibials seem to have given out and, pending on further medical tests, he seems to be in doubt not only for Saturday’s match, but perhaps also for our clashes agains Inter and Real Madrid. If you need me, I’ll be here in my corner, crying and holding onto my Leo Messi plushie.