Injured Thierry Henry highlights some of Barca's problems.


FC Barcelona’s French national team strike sensation, Thierry Henry has agreed that a lot needs to be done in Barca with regards finding the best way to unlock packed defenses especially at away games. Barca suffered yet another blow yesterday night against Valladolid who simply sealed off their defence and could even have won the match in addition to zoning out Barca’s strike force that was largely handicapped with the likes of Thierry Henry absent. About the pattern of play which more and more clubs are beginning to discover is a frustration for the Blaugrana strikers, Henry says:

We need to do better against our opponents when they pack up their defence. You play against a side such as Almeria or Rangers and it's a problem. It becomes difficult when you play against any side with tactics that emphasize on all-round defensive play.

Thierry goes on to speak on the general pattern in Barca and how the players are trying to adapt to the huge expectations from fans as well as playing against stubborn defences. The former Arsenal star also talks on his struggles to adapt to the Blaugrana’s football style as well:

When you play for good teams people aren't happy when you don't get a result and I can tell you the players aren't happy either. The football doesn't have to be to my taste. That's how Barcelona play and sometimes you feel frustrated but that’s what adapting to new club entails. It's normal that people aren't patient. Against Rangers with the score at 0-0 we all wanted to do something and could not. A player such as myself, Lionel or Ronnie all want the ball. It is a tough decision for the midfielders. That's it. I won't come back to that discussion any more. I have to adapt.

There are indications that Thierry Henry will be missing more of FC Barcelona’s matches after the scorer has finally put a stop on over-labouring his injured ankle. Henry picked up an ankle injury while playing for his country France against Lithuania in the Euro 2008 qualifiers, and has secretly struggled to play ever since, forcing himself to remain relevant to Barca’s campaign:

I have played the past three games with an Achilles injury, picked up with France against Lithuania. But still I wanted to play against Villarreal, Rangers and Almeria. I'm feeling way better but I'm not right coming out of a dribble and I'm missing a bit of speed in the last 20 minutes.

Xavi tinkers the best way to utilize Thierry Henry's great pace.


FC Barcelona's vice-captain, Xavi Hernandez has praised Thierry Henry and imagined what best could be brought from the French striker if only Barca could tap into Henry's unique way of playing and make the best use of the French goal king's talents. Henry has scored a few goals for FC Barcelona since his arrival this summer from Arsenal, but more goals are being expected from the scorer who is the all time leading scorer in both Arsenal FC and for the French national team. Xavi says of Thierry Henry:

Henry is a great player, an extraordinary talent. It is normal that while he is adapting that he is not at the level he showed for Arsenal yet. But it is only a matter of time. He is very quick and has a fifth or a sixth gear. Maybe we should make more use of that, which is one of his strengths. He is player that can do anything and it is important that we help him. The team is working towards playing more directly at certain stages in games. We have to improve those things tactically and are working on them in training.

The Spanish international super star also had some nice words for his Barca teammates, Messi, Gudjohnsen and Toure Yaya:

Messi is a complete player, one of those that has everything and it is not longer potential, it is reality. Gudjohnsen is a player that operate in midfield and has great technique. Toure Yaya allows us to do other things, to dedicate ourselves to more creative tasks.

Xavi rounded up by shedding light on Barca's approach to the evening game against Almeria:

Against Almeria, I do not think that they will have the same approach as we did against Rangers. Almeria are a daring team, who like to pass the ball and in the Bernabéu they played very well. They go out to play attacking football and that could be good for us.

The match against Almeria on 28 October starts at 19:00 hours ( GMT + 1 ). The venue is Camp Nou.

FC Barcelona´s Iniesta, Xavi and Puyol plaed for Spain that beat Eidur Gudjohnsen’s Iceland 1-0. Gudjohnsen was the only Barca player not to finish on the winning side in the midweek internationals as Zambrotta, Gio, Thuram, Márquez, Iniesta, Xavi and Puyol all won their games.
Gio and Iniesta scored the winner´s for their teams, while also Marquez scored in a 4-2 win over Ecuador.


Spain – Iceland 1-0

Spain won thanks to a late goal of Barca player Andres Iniesta. The vital victory got Spain back in contention for qualification from Group F for the Euro 2008. A total of 4 Barça players were involved in the match: Xavi, Puyol and Iniesta (all Spain) and Gudjohnsen (Iceland).


Slovenia – Holland 0-1
Gio´s late goal in Slovenia leave Holland top of their group, 3 points clear of closest rivals Romania.


Italy – Scotland 2-0

Gianluca Zambrotta played the full 90 minutes in Italy’s win over Scotland in Bari. Luca Toni scored twice and boosted Italy´s chances of qualifying for Euro 2008 next summer.


France – Austria 1-0


Barca´s Lilian Thuram played in central defence for the first 45 minutes.
A goal from Benzema gave France the win in this friendly over Austria.


Mexico – Ecuador 4-2

Barça star Rafa Márquez played all 90 minutes in this Copa America preparation match against ecuador. On minute 27, Marquez scored the 2-2 equalizer and lead Mexico in a great fight back to a thrilling 4-2 victory.

FC Barcelona´s defender Lilian Thuram has admitted he may consider to retire from international football before Euro 2008. The 35-year-old hasd been convinced by France national coach to go on with his international career but he has not been a regular for FC Barcelona this season so far.
He struggled with niggling injuries after the world cup and is worried not to be up to international standard in 18 months time, when the European Finals are held. Thuram told Canal+:

I must admit I am 35-years-old and the 2008 European Championships are very far away, and furthermore, I don't play much with Barcelona these days. If it goes on, it will be difficult for me to play the Euro. When you don't play much, it is hard to remain at a very high level. There are a lot of youngsters and if they show good things, it is normal to say "Lilian Thuram, your time has come, we don't count on you anymore." When you are not equal to the situation you have to let your place go. You can't cling to it.

FC Barcelona had 8 players in action for the Euro qualifiers. Barca´s Deco (Portugal), Lilian Thuram (France), Gianluca Zambrotta (Italy), Xavi, Carles Puyol, Andrés Iniesta (all Spain), Eidur Gudjohnsen (Iceland) and Gio Van Bronckhorst (Holland) were all in action on Saturday but with different results. There were all in all 2 wins, 1 draw and 3 defeats:
Portugal (3:0 against Azerbaijan) and Italy (2:0 against Ucraina) won, Holland (1:1 against Bulgaria) drew, Spain (0:2 against Sweden), Iceland (0:4 against Latvia) and France (0:1 against Scotland) all lost.


Apart from Spain, who will play Argentina in a friendly on Wednesday, the other five countries will all play a second qualifiying match on Wednesday evening.

5 Barca players could take part in the Spain vs Argentina enconter: Andres Iniesta, Carles Puyol, Xavi Hernandez (all Spain), Leo Messi and Javier Saviola (both Argentina)


But there were 4 other Barca players in action. Ronaldinho and the Brazilian national team won against Kuwait 4:0 and will play Ecuador in Sweden on Wednesday. Victor Valdes, albert Jorquera and Oleguer Presas played with the Catalan selection against Euskadi (Basque country) 2:2 in a very exciting encounter.