The 30-man Barca squad and the coaching staff took off from Barcelona airport without any problems or delays this morning on their 14-hour flight to Mexico. A total of 122 people are on the trip to Mexico and USA:


- 30 players
- 17 coaching staff (including coaches, physiotherapist and masseurs)

- 26 reporters
- 31 Barca fans

- 18 employees of FC Barcelona from various departments


Related Articles: FC Barcelona Summer Tour 2006: USA & Mexico | FC Barcelona´s Pre-Season Tour to Mexico and USA: Details and Match Schedule | FC Barcelona Team off to USA & Mexico: Full Details of Tour here!

3 Barca's youngsters - Marc Valiente, Jeffren and Toni Calvo, as well as former Barca player Gerard Piqué (now Manchester United) won the European U-19 Championship against Scotland in the final on Saturday evening.


SPAIN v SCOTLAND 2-1


Spain: Adán; Barragán, Marc Valiente, Piqué, Canella; Javi García, Mario Suárez, Toni Calvo (Jeffren, 72´), Capel (Granero, 86´); Mata and Bueno.


Scotland: McNeill, Brown, Cuthbert, Adams, Wallace; Grant, Ferry, McGilnchey, Cameron (Dorrans, 73´), Conroy (Gilmour, 78´) and Elliot.


Goals:
0-1 Bueno (50´)

0-2 Bueno (70´)
1-2 Dorrans (86´)


Referee: Kristinn Jakobsson (Iceland).


Centre halfs Valiente and Pique formed a solid partnership in defence and Jeffren Suarez substituted his Barca teammate Toni Calvo. The Spanish team were always in control and two goals by Bueno secured the win and the European trophy to a great young Spanish side.



Throughout the tournament, all 3 Barca players contributed to the European success. Marc Valiente, the young Barca defender on who Frank Rijkaard already set his eyes on, played every minute. Venezuela born, Canarian Jeffren Suarez also took part in all matches and qualifyers scored 3 goals. Toni Calvo appeared in four games and scoring the winner against Turkey.

The first pre-season match was a success. Barca won easily and confidently 3-0 against AGF Aarhus and will fly back to Barcelona tonight.
Goals have been scored by young sensation Giovanni dos Santos (19 min.), Ezquerro (38 min.) and Schultz (own goal).

The Sports Court of Catalonia has paved the way for another 4 year period of Joan Laporta as president of FC Barcelona.


The sports tribunal decided not to take the case any further. Joan Laporta has not been punished in any way or being banned to stand for election. The court hearing lasted 3 hours and finally judge Jose Domingo Valls ruled that the wrong interpretation of the statutes of FC Barcelona by Laporta and his board members had been of minor nature and will therefore not be taken any further.


At present, no other candidate has come out to oppose or challenge Laporta so far. If no candidate stands for election, Laporta could be re-installed as president without opposition by the end of August.


Rrelated Articles: FC Barcelona president Laporta steps down - paves way for new elections | FC Barcelona president Laporta´s official statement about new elections | President Laporta back in August? Also Rosell denies candidacy

Barca´s Cameroon international striker Samuel Eto'o has returned from his summer holidays prolongued with Barca´s permission by 1 week and is ready to challenge for glory.


In an exclusive interview with Barca´s official website, La Liga´s topscorer and "Pichichi" Eto'o (26 goals) looked very positive into the upcoming season. He believes that Barca can win all 6 trophies the team is challenging for.


FCB: How were your holidays?

"Good, really good. Not having to get up early and not play football for more than sixty days, at least without any pressure, has been really good".

FCB: I imagine you're keen to get started?

"Of course! When you like what you do, you miss it. And in addition, in my case, I didn't play in the World Cup, but I went to Germany to see how the others did. It made me sad not to play in the World Cup. But as for your question, yes I was keen to get started".

FCB: Apart from the young players from the Academy who have been training with the squad over the last few days, the only new face is Gudjohnsen. Have you been able to talk to him?

"I've said hello. We all know him as a footballer. I'm here for whatever he needs. We all have to help him settle in as soon as possible and I'm sure he'll help us".

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