Over laboured Ronaldinho to stay out of Villarreal encounter.


Coach Frank Rijkaard has decided to rest Ronaldinho and exclude the Brazilian star in the weekend La liga match against Villarreal. The Brazilian superstar was due to return to Camp Nou by 11.30am on Friday, but the long haul back from South America proved too much and he did not show up. Rijkaard will now preferably use Ronnie in Barca's mid-week Champions League game against Rangers in Glasgow during the forthcoming midweek fixtures.


Ronaldinho was the star attraction in both of Brazil's matches played against Colombia and Ecuador as the five-time world cup champions aim to qualify for the next world cup in South Africa.


The decision to exclude Ronaldinho has paved the way for Giovani Dos Santos to be given a chance of starting in his second league game of the campaign. Bojan Krkic could also move up the rankings as he will be the first choice forward on the bench to go on in El Madrigal, ahead of Eidur Gudjohnsen and Santi Ezquerro.


The full squad includes:


Valdés, Jorquera; Oleguer, Thuram, Puyol, Milito, Abidal, Sylvinho; Xavi, Deco, Iniesta, Marc Crosas; Messi, Henry, Bojan, Giovani, Ezquerro, Gudjohnsen.

Barca stars hand Argentina second world cup victory in two qualiying matches.


FC Barcelona's duo of Gabriel Milito and Lionel Messi each struck in the first half to give Argentina a 2-0 victory over hosts Venezuela in the South American world cup qualifying match played on Tuesday. The first came in the 15th minute when Gabriel Milito rose highest to head in a precise Riquelme free-kick, giving the visitors the lead much against the run of play. The second was a master piece from player of the moment, Lionel Messi. Carlos Tevez produced some good football on the right before finding the magical Barca forward, who took a few deft touches to cut inside a couple of defenders, and let rip a 20 yard effort that went straight into the corner.


However, deadly second-half head injury on Inter Milan's player, Nicolas Burdisso almost marred the match. Burdisso was involved in a clash of heads with Juan Arango, and unlike the latter, did not move after falling to the ground, in scenes that immediately brought back memories of Antonio Puerta. After a very nervous few minutes, he was somehow strapped and stretchered off and is recovering.

Barca goal merchant is about to write his name further in the history books.


After making his debut in France in 1997, Thierry Henry ahs not looked back in terms of delivery quality performance for his home side. The patriotic French man achieved a landmark over the weekend when he equalled Michel Platini's goal's record for France, hitting 41 goals to tie the goal tally of the legendary Platini. Elated on achieving this feat, the FC Barcelona stalwart reveals qualities that made him succeed and go thus far over an unbroken period of ten full years with the national team:

Anyone with the right attitude could set high targets and work towards achieving them. What is important is to be consistent. That's what one needs in order to break records. Steadfastness cannot be over emphasized. However, I prefer to speak of the team; I'd much rather pass the ball to a player who's in a better position to score than I am.

France needs to garner six points in their last two games against Lithuania and Ukraine if Les Blues hope to qualify for the EURO 2008 Championship. Thierry Henry is optimistic and wants to put in his best:

I'll try to do well against Lithuania, then we'll see what happens in Scotland-Italy, as one team will need to drop points in that match. Finally, we'll look for three points in Ukraine.I have that last rung to climb, and of course the team has two to reach the European Championships.

On his favourite goal scored for France, Thierry smiles and picks out three goals:

I remember a goal against Scotland in 2002, and one against Denmark in the European Championship, and finally one against Brazil in the World Cup of 2006. Those were the best.

France will play Lithuania on Wednesday in a match which is already attracting lots of media attention as Thierry Henry is expected to break Platini's goal record by scoring his 42nd goal for France.

FC Barcelona players in crucial roles for their respective countries.


A penalty resulting from a foul on Giovani dos Santos was well converted by Cacho to give Mexico a 2-2 draw with Nigeria. The FC Barcelona starlet featured for all of the 90 minutes of the match played in Mexico, with Dos Santos being the antidote to the rampaging Nigerians. The Barca star proved a worthy answer on the other end to attacking incursions made by the West Africans, who are the number one rated country by FIFA in all of the Africa. Nigeria went ahead with a goal from Newcastle striker, Obafemi Martins. The Magpie, Martins made it two against the hosts, and with Mexico trailing 2-0, Giovani stepped up his game to constantly upset the Nigerian defence. Mexico drew one goal back through Cacho and got level after the skillful Dos Santos was fouled by a mesmerized Nigerian defence for a penalty, which Cacho again, converted to make it 2-2.


Ronaldinho also staved off challenges from host country Colombia to give Brazil an away point from their 2010 FIFA world cup qualifying match opener in Bogota. The FC Barcelona machine played all through the match, creating beautiful opportunities for the Samba Boys. Ronaldinho will again anchor events in Brazil's second world cup match against Ecuador in the Maracana, while Giovani will brace up for Mexico as they face Guatamela in their second friendly this week.

Young talent likely to be drafted as support striker for Eto'o, Henry and Messi.


FC Barcelona management are having stronger resolution toward benefitting more from its extensive and highly productive youth programme by possibly drafting in Spanish youth sensation, Bojan Krkic and Mexican wonder-boy, Giovanni Dos Santos into the senior team to challenge for honours, while acting as effective supports for Barca's new strike force, comprising the likes of Samuel Eto'o, Thierry Henry, Lionel Messi and the attack conscious gem, Ronaldinho Gaucho.


Bojan Krkic, often likened to the phrase goal machine, has now hit over 900 goals in all his total during his junior career years, and recently scored for the FC Barcelona seniors in his debut against Al-Ahly FC. Bojan also emerged the joint top scorer for the second successive year in the Spain U-17 category, and is so in demand that he has also played for the Spanish U-21 National Team even at the tender age of 16.
Krkic was recently shortlisted for the Canada 2007 U-20 World Cup, but has been given a leave from the U-20 Team so as to honour the committment he has with the U-17 National Team against the forthcoming U-17 World Cup in Korea. Krkic scored all the goals for Spain in both the Semi-Final and the Final matches enroute the U-17 World Cup qualifying matches. He also assisted in setting up the goal that gave Spain their qualifying match victory against Georgia in his recent U-21 debut.


Bojan was also last week, voted the 2007 Barcelona B Team Player of The Year and has been selected by an electoral board as one of the best youth players in Spain for the 2007 draft, making the list of the first eleven best players in Spain.

A recent request was made for the young player by Ajax of Holland, but the Braca team management are unwilling to let go of their young dynamo.


Giovanni Dos Santos has also been in impressive form, banging in important goals for both the juniors and seniors, including two goals for the senior team in his Copa Catalunya Semi-Final match against Nastic. The young Mexican u-17 hero is a prime target for many European clubs, but FC Barcelona prefer to retain the golden two and nuture them into full fledged La Liga and UEFA Champions League players of the Blaugrana.





Other Articles: Barca Stars of the Future: Bojan Krkic and Giovanni Dos Santos | Bojan Krkic - In the Footsteps of great Paulino Alcantara | Copa Catalunya: Rijkaard Rallies Youth Players