Tuesday is another day of internationals for the Barça players. Argentina and Leo Messi are facing Paraguay in the CONMEBOL zone’s World Cup qualifying matches, and the side managed by Alejandro Sabella can confirm their passage to Brazil with a win tonight, although if both Uruguay and Ecuador lose their matches earlier in the day, Argentina would have qualified before needing to kick a ball. It won’t be easy against a Paraguay side that is buoyant after a 4-0 drubbing of Bolivia. Leo Messi is expected to start, but Barça’s other Argentinian, Mascherano, misses the game through suspension
International friendlies
After a 2-0 win in Helsinki kept Spain very much on track for the World Cup Finals, Valdés, Jordi Alba, Xavi, Iniesta, Cesc and Pedro have a friendly this evening against Chile in Geneva, which means a fascinating match-up against their club colleague Alexis. Barça keeper Valdés could well start, meaning there should be plenty of Barça players to watch. The Fàbregas-Alba connection proved devastating against the Finns on Friday, and following France’s draw with Georgia, Spain are now in a very commanding position in their group. Meanwhile, Chile beat Venezuela 3-0, with Alexis one of the outstanding performers in a game that keeps his national team’s qualification hopes very much alive.
Neymar also has a friendly, for Brazil against Portugal in Boston. The Europeans are taking on the 2014 World Cup hosts without their biggest star, Cristiano Ronaldo. Brazil thumped Australia 6-0 at the weekend, with Neymar getting one of the goals, while Portugal came from behind to win 4-2 in Northern Ireland.
