Six called up for international duty
29.09.2009
Six Schalke players have received international call-ups for the forthcoming round of qualifying matches for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.
Once again, Carlos Zambrano has the longest journey ahead of him. The defender is in the Peru squad to face fifth-placed Argentina in Buenos Aires on 10 October (1900) before hosting Bolivia in Lima on 14 October (1500). Bolivia are next to bottom in the group, two points ahead of Peru.
Elsewhere Vasileios Pliatsikas has been selected by Greece, currently second in Group 2, for the visit of third-placed Latvia in Athens on 10 October (2030). Four days later fifth-placed Luxembourg are the visitors to the Greek capital (also 2030).
Ivan Rakitic and Croatia are scheduled to take on Qatar in a friendly on 4 October (1800). Croatia, second in Group 6, will then travel to Astana, where they will face fifth-placed Kazakhstan on 14 October (2130).
In Group 5 Halil Altintop's first stop will be Brussels, where third-placed Turkey take on Belgium, who are fourth, on 10 October (2045). Just four days later Turkey play host to bottom-placed Armenia in Bursa (2100).
Levan Kenia will initially travel to Ireland with Georgia's under-21 squad for a European Championship qualifier in Dublin on 9 October. The Schalke midfielder will then link up with the senior squad in Sofia, where Bulgaria, third in Group 8, entertain bottom-placed Georgia on 14 October. Also in action against Bulgaria will be Levan Kobiashvili, who has also been nominated for the clash with Montenegro in Podgorica on 10 October, which kicks off at 1900.
