If Spain beat Belarus (22.00, CET) they’ll be through to the 2014 World Cup Finals
Alexis’ Chile face Colombia, and will also qualify with a win tonight
On Saturday, Alves and Neymar have a Brazil friendly in South Korea, while Sunday is a big day for Song and Cameroon against Tunísia
Three full internationals from Barça B
It is not just the first team players who have international matches this weekend – there are three Barça B players in action. Macky Bagnack is joining Alex Song in the Cameroon squad that has such an important game in Tunisia. Tonny Sanabria has been picked for Paraguay for the game in Venezuela, although his side have nothing to play for other than avoiding the ignominy of finishing last bottom of the qualifying table. And David Babunski’s Macedonia are being entertained by Wales in Cardiff. That game is in World Cup qualifying Group A, but neither side has any hope of catching the two sides that have dominated the group, Belgium and Croatia.
Valdés, Piqué, Busquets, Xavi, Iniesta, Cesc, Pedro, Alexis, Alves, Neymar and Song all have international matches this weekend. Here we take a look ahead at the games involving Spain, Chile, Brazil and Cameroon, without forgetting that Sergi Roberto scored one goals and gave one assist for Spain U21 against Bosnia on Thursday night (3-2). All times are CET.
Spain v Belarus (Friday, 22.00): Spain are currently tied on 14 points with France at the top of Group H, but have one game in hand. That means that a win tonight would all but mathematically ensure their place at the World Cup Finals next year, where they will of course be defending their title. No fewer than seven Barça players could feature in the game being played in Mallorca.
Colombia v Chile (Friday, 23.00): Alexis Sánchez and Chile are third in the Conmebol qualifying table, and tonight visit second-placed Colombia. A win for Chile would be enough to secure one of the South American berths in the Finals, while Colombia themselves would qualify with a win or a draw. In whatever case, Chile will have a second chance to qualify when they play at home to Ecuador on Tuesday night – and failing that, the worst case scenario of all would be a two-legged playoff against Jordan.
South Korea v Brazil (Saturday, 13.00): Alves and Neymar’s Brazil are already through to the World Cup as the host nation, and continue their preparations on Saturday night with a friendly in Seoul against South Korea, who are also safely through. The Barça striker took a knock in training and may sit the match out.
Tunisia v Cameroon (Sunday, 19.00): The African qualifying tournament has reached the final stage – a series of five straight elimination games played home and away to determine the continent’s five finalists. For Song’s Cameroon, it is Tunisia who stand between them and a place in the finals. The first leg is on Sunday evening in the Stade Olympique de Radès, and the second leg in Yaoundé, Cameroon will be on November 17.