<![CDATA[this week’s exodus]]>This week is – sigh – an international week, which means no games this weekend.  During this week, 16 15 out of our 25 players will be gone, and if the three players (Kaká, Garay and Albiol) still injured/coming off of injury are added to the list, that means that only six players (Granero, Mateos, Adán, Dudek, Marcelo, Pedro León) will be available for training sessions.  Fingers crossed that none of the players will return injured, and that the long trip to Japan won’t affect our players from La Albiceleste.  Update: Gago won’t be making the trip.

Spain – Iker, Sergio, Xabi, Arbeloa

Oct. 8 – Spain vs. Lithuania (Salamanca) – Euro 2012 qualifier

Oct. 12 – Scotland vs. Spain (Glasgow) – Euro 2012 qualifier

Spain U-21 – Canales

Oct. 9 – Spain vs. Croatia (Burgos) – U-21 Euro 2011 playoff

Oct. 12 – Croatia vs. Spain (Varazdin) – U-21 Euro 2011 playoff

Portugal – Cris, Pepe, Carvalho

Oct. 8 – Portugal vs. Denmark (Oporto) – Euro 2012 qualifier

Oct. 12 – Iceland vs. Portugal (Reykjavík) – Euro 2012 qualifier

Germany – Özil, Khedira

Oct. 8 – Germany vs. Turkey (Berlin) – Euro 2012 qualifier

Oct. 12 – Kazakhstan vs. Germany (Almaty) – Euro 2012 qualifier

France – Benzema, Lass

Oct. 8 – France vs. Romania (Paris) – Euro 2012 qualifier

Oct. 12 – France vs. Luxembourg (Metz) – Euro 2012 qualifier

Mali – Diarrá

Oct. 9 – Mali vs. Liberia (Bamako) – Africa Cup of Nations qualifier

Argentina – Di María, Higuaín, Gago

Oct. 8 – Japan vs. Argentina (Saitama) – friendly

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