Barcelona's Copa Stars to rest.


All FC Barcelona players who featured for their countries in the just concluded Copa America will be given leave of absence from Barca's Scottish and Asian pre-season tours. The players include Lionel Messi and Gabriel Milito both of Argentina as well as Rafael Marquez of Mexico. Brazilian super star Ronaldinho was given a leave by his country Brazil, even before the Championship commenced, so has rejoined Barcelona after his holidays for the pre-season matches. Messi, Milito and Marquez will return on the 7th of August, but Milito alone will be present at Camp Nou to finalise his contract with the Blaugrana before leaving to rest after being presented to the fans and to the press at Camp Nou.


Barca will be global attractions once the Scotland tour commences on July 26th, as everyone will be eager to see the super squad play for the first time with their striking trio of Samuel Eto'o, Ronaldinho and Thierry Henry in the absence of Lionel Messi who completes the fabulous four striking quartet. Also on first time display will be Eric Abidal and Toure Yaya who will feature for Barca this month for the first time in their careers.

Milito flies into the beautiful city of Barcelona to formalise his stay at Camp Nou.


Argentina has concluded their Copa America campaign by finishing as runners-up against Brazil. Now, the attention has shifted to Gabriel Milito, the newest acquisition by Barcelona. Milito, while speaking to press men during the Championship in Venezuela, said he and Barca will be more in the news after the competition ended, and how right he is. Gabi is due to become a full-fledged player of Barcelona on Wednseday after the Zaragoza defender signs a four year contract with FC Barcelona, which will see the strong and hard-fighting defender waer the number 18 shirt during his stay at Camp Nou.
Gabriel Milito had told his former club, Real Zaragoza that he wanted to join Barcelona and was also encouraged to make the move by his Argentine national team colleague, Lionel Messi and Gabi's family, most notably his mother, who is a fan of Barca.


After signing Milito and his presentation to the Barcelona fans and the press, the officials at Camp Nou will face the issue of players leaving the Blaugrana fort this summer as many prospective clubs have lined up to sign some of the players who may no longer be playing for the Catalan giants next season.

Brazil power to victory against all odds.


Brazil retained their Copa America trophy by beating favourites Argentina 3-0 in a pulsating final that proved bookmakers wrong after Argentina were widely tipped to win the trophy. FC Barcelona's super star, Ronaldinho's spirit guided the Brazilians to a safe landing in the South American championship, as even though in his absence, Ronnie urged his teammates on.
Barca's youth star, Lionel Messi had a goal disallowed in the final, which would have changed scores and perhaps the winners had it been allowed.


The Line-up:


Argentina: Roberto Abbondanzieri, Javier Zanetti, Roberto Ayala, Gabriel Milito, Gabriel Heinze, Juan Sebastian Veron (Luis Gonzalez 67'), Javier Mascherano, Esteban Cambiasso (Pablo Aimar 59'), Juan Roman Riquelme, Lionel Messi and Carlos Tevez.

Manager: Alfio Basile.


Brazil: Doni, Maicon, Juan, Alex Costa, Gilberto, Elano (Daniel Alves 34'), Mineiro, Josue, Julio Baptista, Robinho (Diego 90') and Vagner Love (Fernando 90').
Manager: Carlos Dunga.


Goals: Julio Baptista (5'), Roberto Ayala o.g. (40'), Daniel Alves (69').


Bookings: Alex (37'), Doni (51'), Gilberto (55'), Julio Baptista (68'), Josue (82'), Javier Mascherano (44'), Carlos Tevez (76').


Referee: Carlos Amarilla (Paraguay). Linesmen: Walter Rial (Uruguay) and Luis Sanchez (Venezuela).

Stadium: Jose Encarnacion Pachencho Romero, Maracaibo, Venezuela. Attendance: 40,000.
Gregory Sica


Watch the Video Highlights:

Gabi Milito looks forward to Lionel Messi's partnership in FC Barcelona.


Gabriel Milito has confessed to Lionel Messi's influencial role in bringing him to FC Barcelona. Milito, speaking to the press during preaprattions ahead of the Copa America final match against defending champions Brazil, said the gifted Barca youth talent told him all about Barca and encouraged him to come and be a part of the Blaugrana family. Milito says:

Messi is a spectacular player and a great sensation. I am going to enjoy playing next to him every day. I am very pleased with the with the prospect of joining Barcelona. I am just waiting to sign the contract and take the medicals, then I will speak more on Barca.

Speaking on the forthcoming Copa America final match in which Gabi will team up with lionel to attempt winning the Cup for a record fifteenth time, Gabriel Milito says:

The final match against Brazil is one of the most important games in my career and all my attention is focused on that. We have to win and maintaining our focus is the key.

Argentina and Uruguay are tied as joint top winners of the Copa America with 14 wins each, and as Uruguay have been eliminated by Brazil in the Semi-Finals, Argentina stand a 50-50 chance of seperating themselves from Uruguay by winning the Copa one extra time more than their South American colleagues.

Watch Lionel Messi's brilliant goal and video highlights of the two Semi-Final amtches at the 2007 Copa America.


Lionel Messi's goal:

Watch more highlights from the Argentina - Mexico match 3-0 (1-0).


Goals:
Gabriel Heinze (44')

Lionel Messi (61')
Joan Riquelme (65')

Brazil - Uruguay 2-2 (2-1), 5-4 pen


Goals:
Brazil>:Maicon(14'), Julio César Baptista(40')

Uruguay :Forlán(36'), Sebastián Abreu(70')


Penalty shoot-out:
Brazil : Robinho (score), Juan (score), Gilberto (score), Afonso (miss), Diego (score), Fernando (miss), Gilberto (score)


Uruguay: Forlan (miss), Scotti (score), Gonzalez (score), Rodriguez (score), Abreu (score), Garcia (miss), Lugado(miss)