Chelsea: 5 Players to Watch in This Weekend's World Cup Qualification

Stamford Bridge may be empty this weekend, but Chelsea supporters won't be left wanting when searching for Blues players on television.

World Cup qualifying is this weekend and Chelsea's roster will be fighting hard for their respective countries to move closer to securing a spot in Brazil in 2014.

Who are the ones to watch?

Join me as I present five Chelsea players to keep an eye on this weekend in the opening stages of World Cup qualifying.

Eden Hazard (Belgium)

The only Belgian-born player on Chelsea's senior roster—three were loaned out this season to various clubs—Eden Hazard will be counted on to match wits (and scores) with attack-heavy opponents Wales and Croatia.

The 21-year-old is already in his fourth year as a member of Belgium's international squad and has scored his only two goals in the last 12 months in Euro 2012 qualification matches.

If Belgium finds themselves in a surprising hole early against either Wales or Croatia, look for Hazard to put it into another gear.

Branislav Ivanovic (Serbia)

Serbia is facing two seemingly easy opponents this weekend—Scotland and Wales—but don't tell Branislav Ivanovic that.

Sure, a loss (or even a draw) against either Scotland or Wales would make a huge dent in Serbia's qualification chances, and cause a huge dip in morale from White Eagles supporters. But anything can happen, especially from such quick and counter-attack-savvy opponents.

Ivanovic will be counted on at centre-back to keep the Scots and Welsh at bay, but these two teams are relative strangers and all the preparation in the world can't stop a surprise run at goal from either of these countries.

Ashley Cole (England)

England is going through a tale of two opponents this weekend, starting their World Cup 2014 qualification against an easy Moldovan team on Friday; and, following that, their most difficult opponent in the Ukraine.

In his 12 years at left-back for the England national team, Cole has rarely disappointed and the Three Lions will need him now more than ever. This looks to be the 31-year-old's last major tournament campaign with the Three Lions.

Look for nothing spectacular from Cole against Moldova, but a big night against Ukrainian midfielder (and the country's top goal scorer), Oleh Husyev.

Fernando Torres (Spain)

I don't know how he does it—none of us do—but we keep counting Fernando Torres out of it and he keeps scoring goals for club and country.

Spain opens their World Cup qualification campaign against two lightweights—Saudi Arabia and Georgia. But the reason this is one to watch is because this will be Torres' 100th international cap.

He's had a stunning career for Chelsea which has only been surpassed by his two Euro tournament wins and one World Cup win with Spain.

Check out Torres' play in his 100th and 101st matches for La Roja, and watch him score some ridiculous, seemingly-impossible goals three minutes into extra time.

Petr Cech (Czech Republic)

So that's what Petr Cech's hair looks like.

Cech's the most experienced player for the Czech Republic, earning 95 caps over a decade's worth of international duty.

Their only match this weekend is against a surprisingly good Denmark squad who impressed during their play in last summer's Euro 2012 tournament, shocking the Netherlands with an opening match win. If not for two late-match goals conceded by Portugal and Germany, the Danes would have reached the quarterfinals and had their best story to tell since Beowulf.

If the Czech Republic is going to win this weekend, it'll be on Cech's head, or rather hands—Denmark hasn't been shut out in a competitive match (major tournament or qualifying) since 2009.