La Liga News – Barcelona in the history books as the finalists of the FIFA World Cup
Eight of Barcelona players have recently joined the “big names” of history that were a part of Barcelona and have played the FIFA World Cup’s final. There have been many who have had this opportunity and this year there are 8 in a row, as they qualified for the final after defeating Germany in an action pact Semi Final in Durban, South Africa. The eight players include; the reserve goalkeeper Victory Valdes along with Carles Puyol, Gerrad Pique, Sergio Busquets, Pedro, Andres Iniesta, Xavi and the new signing David Villa. Just by being a part of the game against Netherlands in the final of the FIFA World Cup 2010, they are writing their names in the history books.
In 1998 and 2002, Barcelona has represented in the final of the FIFA World Cup. In 1998 and 2002, both, Brazil came to the final; once against France and once against Germany. The Brazilian star Rivaldo was the player who played for Barcelona and was a part of the squad as he played in the final of these two World Cups. Even though, they lost the match 3-0 against France, in the next World Cup the Brazilians won the final against the Germans to bring home the cup for their country. Rivaldo is also the only Barcelona star who has played 2 FIFA World Cup finals in a row.
Another player who played in the final of the FIFA World Cup and was a part of Barcelona was the Brazilian legend Romario. He too won the trophy for his side in 1994, when the South American champions, Brazil took on the European giants Italy and defeated them by a penalty shoot-out, as the American crows saw the Brazilians take the World Cup in 1994. Romario was also chosen as the best player of the tournament, as he scored 5 goals.
The first players who played in the FIFA World Cup final and were a part of the Spanish Club Barcelona were the Dutch players Johan Cyruff and Johan Neeskens. They were both part of the final between Germany and Netherlands in 1974. Even though they were a part of the team, they could not help the Dutch win the cup as the host team Germany defeated the Dutch 2-1 to win the World Cup. 4 years later, Johan Neeskens was still a part of the Dutch squad. He helped them reach the final of the World Cup, but still did not manage to win and the host nation Argentina won the match 2-1 to win the world cup. The Dutch have reached the finals twice, and lost to the host nation both of the time.
There are other players who have played Barcelona and also played the final of the FIFA World Cup but it was either before they were a part of the Barcelona squad, or after. Gianluca Zambrotta won the final of the FIFA World Cup 2006, as later he became a part of the Barcelona squad. In the same final, Eric Abidal was the runner-up with his team France. The Brazilian stars, Ronaldo, Ronaldinho, Edmilson and Belletti also played in the final in 2002 as they were a part of Barcelona once in their football career. 4 years before, in the FIFA World Cup 1986, Thierry Henry along with Lilian Thuram, Laurent Blanc, Christoph Dugarry and Emmanuel Petit played for France.
In the FIFA World Cup 1986, it was the great Diego Maradona, who won his country the FIFA World Cup and was a part of Barcelona in his football career. The Hungarian national and Barcelona players Zoltan Czibor and Sandor Kocsis both represented their country in the final of FIFA World Cup 1954. The first player ever who was in the FIFA World Cup final and was also a part of Barcelona was the Uruguayan international Hector Scarone, who was in the final of the FIFA World Cup 1930, and won the World Cup for his country.
Barcelona has always been an impressive club and this year round, in the FIFA World Cup, 4 of the players out of 10 who have been nominated for the golden ball award are from the Spanish Club. The five players include David Villa, Xavi Hernandez, Andres Iniesta and the Argentinean magician Lionel Messi.
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