Article: Mark Denham
With the World Cup finals in South Africa now just three months away, international teams across the globe begin their tournament preparations in earnest this week. For those not taking part in the finals, this week's friendly internationals give nations the opportunity to begin moulding their squads ahead of Euro 2012 qualifiers starting in September.
Bluebirds David Marshall, Peter Enckelman and Gabor Gyepes are away with the Scottish, Finnish and Hungarian national teams respectively, though John Toshack's Wales will be out Joe Ledley for their fixture with Sweden on Wednesday evening as the midfielder continues to recuperate from a double hip operation.
Gabor on duty for Hungary
Wales do, however, have eleven other Championship players in their ranks this week. Nottingham Forest's former Bluebirds Robert Earnshaw and Chris Gunter will be hoping for starting roles against the Swedes, as will Swansea City's Ashley Williams and David Cotterill, especially with the game taking place at the Swans' Liberty Stadium. Blackpool also have two Welsh representatives this week in Neal Eardley and David Vaughan, whilst Craig Morgan (Peterborough United), Lewin Nyatanga (Bristol City), Andy King (Leicester City), Simon Church (Reading) and Ched Evans (Sheffield United) make up the Welsh Championship contingent.
Cardiff's opponents this Saturday Middlesbrough are also without key personnel until after international duty. Austria have recalled full-back Emanuel Pogatetz ahead of their game with Denmark, whilst Scotland have called up new Boro signing Barry Robson for their fixture with the Czech Republic along with five other Championship players. Bristol City's Paul Hartley and Chris Iwelumo will hope to feature at Hampden Park, as will our own David Marshall, Blackpool's in form midfielder Charlie Adam and West Bromwich Albion's talismanic Graham Dorrans.
Giovanni Trappatoni's Republic of Ireland squad will lock horns with the mighty Brazil on Wednesday at Arsenal's Emirates Stadium. Five Championship regulars have been named in his twenty-three man squad, though goalkeepers Keiren Westwood (Coventry City) and Joe Murphy (Scunthorpe United) are unlikely to start ahead of Shay Given. Newcastle United's Leon Best and Reading's Shane Long will compete for striking roles, whilst Preston North End's Sean St. Ledger has been named as one of eight defensive options.
Behind the Welsh, Northern Ireland have the second largest Championship contingent among their ranks this week. Scunthorpe United's Michael O'Connor and Grant McCann are likely to feature at some point again Albania in Tirana, as are Ipswich Town's Gareth McAuley, West Bromwich Albion's Chris Brunt, Coventry City's Sammy Clingan, Doncaster Rovers' Dean Shiels and Plymouth Argyle's Damien Johnson.
Other Championship players on international duty this week:
Daniel Bogdanovic - Barnsley (MALTA v Finland)
Velice Sumulikoski - Ipswich Town (FYR MACEDONIA v Montenegro)
Alexander Tunchev - Leicester City (Poland v BULGARIA)
Jonas Gutierrez - Newcastle United (Germany v ARGENTINA)
Radoslav Majewski - Nottingham Forest (POLAND v Bulgaria)
Kari Arnason - Plymouth Argyle (Cyprus v ICELAND)
Rory Fallon - Plymouth Argyle (NEW ZEALAND v Mexico)
Akos Buszaky - Queens Park Rangers (HUNGARY v Russia)
Henri Camara - Sheffield United (Greece v SENEGAL)
Frank Simec - Sheffield Wednesday (Netherlands v USA)
Jay DeMerit - Watford (Netherlands v USA)
