Faux International Week!

By: Isaiah | March 26th, 2008

[Updated version]

Eight Barcelona players have been called up to play for their national sides in friendlies this week. Spain has called upon Puyol, Xavi, and Iniesta to play Italy and Zambrotta. I’m sure they’ll slide in hard against each other. Abidal and Thuram got the call from France, as did Henry, but the latter withdrew through injury, which is both surprising since he finished the game against Valladolid and it’s also worrisome because of our dearth of healthy players. France is going to play England in a preview of the Euro2008 matchup…wait, no, England’s not in it. (Low blow) But they are really going to play a friendly and Sir Bex will be there and the circus will be in full swing…wooo…In other news, Gudjohnsen will play for Iceland against Slovakia, Argentina has called up Gabi Milito for the friendly against Egypt, and Gai Assulin, another wunderkid in our reserve squad, looks set play for Israel for the first time against Chile.

Then there’s this little kid named Bojan. Maybe you’ve heard of him. Well he’s not playing for the full Spanish side, but I suspect that’s only because the U-21 side has a competitive match against Kazakhstan in their bid to qualify for the U-21 European championship. Good luck, Bojan, and come back healthy. How will the defenders going up against him handle that kind of skill and maturity? After all, the kid plays for Barcelona’s first team regularly and has proved the difference several times throughout the year.

So everyone goes off a-traveling and then has to shoot right back home for the Betis away match (to be played behind closed doors) on Saturday. Sheesh. Then it’s Champions League (!!!!!) on Tuesday, April 1. So that’s a pretty tough schedule and while I generally respect international friendlies, I have to somewhat peeved that they’re going on during a moment when all is not well at the Camp Nou, at least not in the health sense.

Here’s hoping everyone comes back from international duty healthy and re-energized! Update! Milito has suffered a “groin strain” while training with Argentina in Cairo. Milito will undergo tests tomorrow to determine how long he’ll be out.