Barcelona have a file 17 gamers on the World Cup and most, however actually not all, have been in motion throughout the first spherical of video games in Qatar.
All the nations have now performed their first match of the group phases, so let’s take a look at the way it’s been going for Barcelona’s World Cup stars.
Frenkie de Jong
Photograph by Alex Grimm/Getty Pictures
The Barcelona midfielder was not at his greatest in opposition to Senegal, as he readily admitted after the sport, however nonetheless performed a vital function in an necessary 2-0 win for Louis van Gaal’s aspect.
De Jong performed a beautiful ball by for Cody Gakpo to open the scoring with simply six minutes remaining which despatched the Dutch on their method to a gap day victory. Davy Klaassen then went on to make the sport secure in stoppage time.
The Netherlands are seen by many because the darkish horses for this match and go on to play Ecuador subsequent. De Jong has already proven how essential he will probably be to their staff’s probabilities however the Dutch will probably be anticipating much more from the Barca star.
Andreas Christensen
Barcelona summer season signing Andreas Christensen impressed in Denmark’s goalless draw with Tunisia. The Danes could have been disenchanted to not win however Christensen regarded robust in protection and precipitated issues on the different finish too.
Denmark ought to have scored when a nook was headed to the far put up by Christensen. Andreas Cornelius ought to have put it away however in some way managed to solely discover the put up as an alternative. It was actually one of many misses of the match to date.
| Andreas Christensen Tunisia:• 90 minutes• 94 touches• 79/82 passes accomplished (96%)• 4 passes into remaining third• 5/8 lengthy balls accomplished• 4 blocks• 9 recoveries• 1 clearance• 2/4 complete duels wonRock stable. pic.twitter.com/iaQ4tLjlvy— BarçaTimes (@BarcaTimes) November 22, 2022
Christensen might but play a key function for Barcelona within the second half of the season. Ronald Araujo and Jules Kounde have each regarded a little bit fragile in 2022-23, Gerard Pique has retired, and Xavi will want some energy in depth on the subject of his backline.
Ousmane Dembele
Photograph by Jean Catuffe/Getty Pictures
Barcelona ahead Ousmane Dembele was within the beginning XI for France and picked up an help in a snug win over Australia. The Socceroos did threaten an upset after they took the lead however France hit again and swatted them apart in a commanding win.
Dembele’s help got here for PSG striker Kylian Mbappe. The ahead crossed for the 23-year-old to open his account in Qatar and web a uncommon headed objective. Didier Deschamps then opted to switch Dembele on 76 minutes with the sport already within the bag.
Spain put in one of the vital spectacular performances of the primary spherical on the World Cup, thrashing Costa Rica 7-0. It was an ideal end result for Luis Enrique’s aspect and an ideal evening for a bunch of Barcelona gamers.
Ferran Torres grabbed a brace, Gavi made historical past along with his objective, Pedri had pundits purring over his efficiency, and Jordi Alba impressed and picked up an help.
There was additionally a debut for Alejandro Balde and a powerful efficiency by captain Sergio Busquets on an evening the place nearly all the things went proper for La Roja.
Robert Lewandowski
Photograph by Koji Watanabe/Getty Pictures
Barcelona’s striker has not been having one of the best time of it just lately. He missed a penalty in opposition to Almeria, was despatched off in opposition to Osasuna and has since been hit with an excessively harsh three-match ban.
Lewandowski then headed off to the World Cup and look set to attain his first ever objective within the competitors in opposition to Mexico after profitable a penalty. It wasn’t to be for the objective machine although as his spot-kick was saved and Poland had been held.
Many individuals asking for a full-time replace on a half-time stat we despatched out yesterday…Robert Lewandowski obtained simply 32 passes within the sport in opposition to Mexico yesterday and 44% of these got here within the air through goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny (14). pic.twitter.com/12RTVTBnJ9— Opta Analyst (@OptaAnalyst) November 23, 2022
Poland can nonetheless qualify after all however Group C is tough to foretell after Saudi Arabia beat Argentina within the opener. Lewandowski will face Saudi Arabia subsequent and can hoping to lastly break his World Cup duck.
Ansu Fati
Spain’s major weak spot heading into the competitors appeared to be the shortage of a dependable goalscorer, however La Roja swatted such worries apart by smashing seven targets previous Costa Rica and choosing up their largest ever World Cup win.
It was an ideal evening for Spain however a troublesome one for Ansu Fati. The 20-year-old didn’t play a single minute and will solely watch from the bench as Spain simply stored on scoring with out him.
7 – Spain achieved their largest win in World Cup historical past, surpassing the 6-1 win over Bulgaria in 1998, turning into the primary staff to attain seven targets from simply eight pictures on track in a single sport within the historical past of the match since 1966. Overwhelming pic.twitter.com/NVYzY2Bcdd— OptaJose (@OptaJose) November 23, 2022
The margin of victory allowed Luis Enrique to rotate his staff in an try to hold his gamers contemporary. Each Ferran Torres and Pedri had their toes up earlier than an hour had even been performed and extra substitutions adopted.
The margin of victory even allowed Luis Enrique handy a senior debut to teenage defender Alejandro Balde after his late call-up however there have been no minutes in any respect for Ansu.
Raphinha
Photograph by Justin Setterfield/Getty Pictures
Barcelona ahead Raphinha headed to the World Cup after a fairly combined begin to his Camp Nou profession however was in from the beginning in opposition to Serbia for Tite’s aspect.
The Selecao went on to win 2-0, with Richarlison scoring each targets, however Raphinha might and possibly ought to have discovered the again of the online.
Barcelona’s summer season signing was offered with two good alternatives however couldn’t beat goalkeeper Vanja Milinković-Savić on both event. Raphinha might need had one other probability too however a implausible deal with from Strahinja Pavlovic put an finish to that.
Brazil’s huge array of attacking expertise means these misses might show expensive as we go into the match. Tite has all kinds of choices in assault and Raphinha will know his place will probably be beneath risk if he doesn’t ship.