Over 100 former footballers’ descended on FC Barcelona’s Camp Nou for the first congress of the European Former Players’ Association (EFPA).

From 10:00 on Sunday morning, the EFPA congress will begin with the organisation’s president, Ramon Alfonseda, taking charge of the inaugural event. Barça president Joan Laporta, the Secretary of State for Sport, Jaime Lissavetsky and a member of the UEFA Fair Play Committee and Ethical Comission, Paulo Sousa, will be present.

Around 200 people are expected to attend the event which will last all day, with half of those being former players of first division clubs, whose leagues are under the UEFA umbrella. The morning session will be organised by journalist Pedro Ruiz and the afternoon side of things will be overseen by journalist Moisès Rodríguez. The event will take place in the Paris Room, which is situated above the FCBotiga in the Camp Nou complex.

Intergration and education

Laporta looked ahead to the assembly sent a message to the former players who will be at the event: “We depend on you to set an example to the younger generations, We will always be by your side,” he said. Lissavetsky then spoke about education as he commented: “Sport has a great deal to do with deucational values and is, at the same time, great for social integration. We need to continue to shine a positive light on sport and try and eradicate any shadows.”

Glasgow next

The next EFPA congress will be held in Glasgow, Scotland on a date that is yet to be decided.

The European Championship and African Nations’ Cup qualifiers resume again on Saturday and FC Barcelona have a host of players involved with their countries. Frank Rijkaard will also be without his stars at the start of next week as the action continues on Wednesday.

Xavi, Andrés Iniesta, Carles Puyol, Lilian Thuram, Gianluca Zambrotta, Gio Van Bronckhorst, Eidur Gudjohnsen, Samuel Eto’o, Ronaldinho and Rafael Márquez are all away on international duty and will be out of Barcelona until Thursday.

Ronaldinho kicks things off

The first player in action is set to be Ronaldinho when Brazil take on Chile in a friednly in Gothenburg (live on La Sexta). The game is being used as preparation for the Copa America, which takes place this summer in Venezuela. The Brazilians then face Ghana in Stockholm on Tuesday.

Four Barça stars in Euro 2008 action

Four Barça stars are preparing to play on Saturday in Euro 2008 qualifiers. Xavi and Iniesta could play tonight for Spain (22:00 CET, TVE1) against Denmark. Luis Aragonés’ side are currently fifth in Group F and cannot afford to drop any points in the game in the Bernabéu. Puyol was set to miss th game through suspension, before he had to leave the set-up to return home after the death of his grandfather. The Blaugrana skipper will return on Sunday.

Van Bronckhorst is due to play for the Netherlands in their qualifier against Romania (20:30, Teledeporte) in Rotterdam. A victory would move the Dutch six points clear of third in Group G. Thuram is also playing as he represents France in their match against Lithuania (18:00, Eurosport). The French level on points with Scotland at the top of Group B.

Eto’o in Cameroon

In the African Nations’ Cup, Eto’o is set to play for Cameroon in their match against Liberia (15:30) and Márquez will appear for Mexico in Monterrey as they take on Paraguay in a friendly (22:00).

Zambrotta and Gudjohnsen on Wednesday

Gianluca Zambrotta and Eidur Gudjohnsen will play for their repsective countries in midweek. Italy will take on Scotland in Bari, while Iceland play Spain in Palma de Mallorca. On the same night Holland will play Slovenia, France meet Austria in a friendly and Mexico play Ecuador in Oakland.

Frank Rijkaard has used the break from league action to give those FC Barcelona players not set to represent their countries some time off to rest and recuperate. The squad are not due back into training until Monday morning.

After a typical week of training sessions in the run-up to an international weekend, the Dutch coach has decided not to demand too much of the players that have been at Camp Nou. With a host of Euro 2008 and African Nations’ Cup qualifiers, as well as friendlies, leaving the number of players at the coach’s disposal limited, there will be no training until 11:00 on Monday morning.

Preparing for Depor

Once back on the pitch in front of La Masia, the remaining players will begin preparations for the game against Deportivo the following weekend. The club has ten representatives away on international duty and they will not return until Thursday. Xavi, Carles Puyol and Andrés Iniesta will line up for Spain against Eidur Gudjohnsen’s Iceland at the Bernabéu on Wednesday. Gianluca Zambrotta is set to play for Italy against Scotland, while Lilian Thuram will play for France against Austria in a friendly.

More internationals

Some of the non-European Barça stars are also in action as Ronaldinho plays for Brazil against Ghana on Tuesday before Rafael Márquez appears for Mexico in Oakland against Ecuador the following evening. Samuel Eto’o will lead Cameroon’s attack in their game against Liberia.

Deco on the road back

Deco has been unable to train over the last week after undergoing an operation on his broken finger. Doctors recommended that the Portugal international have complete rest in order to recover and avoid any infection. Over the next few days he will have his dressing changed and would be available to play against Depor, had he not already picked up another booking which makes him suspended.

Albert Jorquera, first choice keeper in the Copa del Rey games says the team have no preference over who they meet in the Copa del Rey semi final. According to the man from Bescano, all previous rivals have been tough.

Jorquera explains how the preferred choice between the teams (Sevilla, Deportivo and Getafe) was sinple “it doesn’t matter who we play, they’re all difficult teams. The game will be difficult especially when you take into account that the first game is home”.

Jorquera took this moment to highlight that according to him, the biggest rivals to Barça, especially in La Liga: “Is Sevilla due to their regularity”. Sevilla could also be a potential rival in the final of the Copa del Rey should Barça make it that far.

At the end of the season

On March the 2nd, Jorquera signed a contract extension until June 2008. The reserve keeper wishes to continue with Barça beyond the end of the season: “I’m happy here and I only think of Barça. With Txiki we’ve started to talkabout another year, however, there are other important factors to consider and all will be sorted out in good time”.

Questioned over whether or not the other keeper making headway, Ruben Martinez, would be happy being second choice if it were the case, Jorquera had no doubts in saying: “yes, he’s prepared but it’s the coach’s decision”.

Not worried about rumours

The break in La Liga has served to reveal certain information and rumours regarding possible signings for next year. “These things happen. If we took on board all the names mentioned, we would have 50 players. The team pays little attention to what is being said and we are certainly not obsessed with the subject”, said Jorquera.

Relaxed training

Friday’s training was best described as relaxed and also involved the players switching positions. Jorquera saw how Ludovic Giuly and Belletti robbed his position between the posts. “they played well, but ‘Ludo’ injured himself. Being goalkeeper is more difficult than you think”. Following a week of intensive physical training, it was the opportune moment to relax a little. “to be able to do things like this occasionally is good. It can only be done at times like this. To be able to play in a position that Im not used to is good”, highlighted Jorquera.

Friday’s training took place with a more relaxed feeling about it. In the final game, not only did all the technical staff taking part, but the players played in positions they are not habitually associated with.

Giuly and Belletti put gloves on and played in goal, while Jorquera and Valdes took up attacking positions. Saviola was out due to fever, therefore in total, 10 players were present. The players, staff and coaches all took part in a light heated training session with laughs and smiles all around. Both Giuly and Belletti appeared completely accustomed to their new roles and demonstrated their quality in this position. Valdes, also playing in an unfamiliar position, was able to bag a goal; scoring a penalty.

Specific training for the goalkeepers

Both Giuly and Belletti started the session with goalkeeper coach, Juan Carlos Unzue. The Brazilian full back and the French winger worked with Juan Carlos Unzue just before the game. Both players showing their capabilities between the posts well.

A game for all

The game, 10 against 10, not only consisted of the players but also seen in action were: Eusabio, Neeskens, Rijkaard, the physiotherapists and the rest of the staff present. Valdes and Jorquera filed in outfield - wearing the shirts of Valdes and Ezquerro respectively, the former finding the net twice. The other goal scorers were Oleguer, Motta and Edmilson.

Rest until Monday

The team will not come back to train until Monday, due to the majority of the team playing for their respective national teams. The next session will therefore be on Monday morning, despite Rijkaard being unable to see the return of any of the International players mentioned.

Txiki on pitch

One of the notable spectators of Friday’s training session was Txiki Begiristain - Technical Secretary. He was on pitch during the training along with team representative, Carlos Naval.

Marc Crosas and Julian Lopez will be two of the leading characters in the local derby this Saturday between Espanyol B and Barça B. Both want to achieve victory in order to rebuild moral among the team.

They organize their teams, take part in attacking plays and see themselves playing on the bigger stage. They are young, ambitious and captain their teams on the front line. Blaugrana Marc Crosas and Espanyolista Julian Lopez come face to face on Sunday for the derby between Espanyol B and Barça B (17:00, Barça TV).

Three points and greater moral

They are both midfield players with different characteristics, this Sunday they will play in the Ciudad Deportiva Espanyol in Sant Adria. The Espanyol B players understand the significance of Sunday’s encounter: “Derby games also give me extra motivation, and although they say they’re like any other games, I always like them me and I want to come away with three points”.

Blaugrana Marc Crosas knows just what a victory in Sant Adria can do: “the team which wins will be the team which comes out mentally stronger. It’s an important game for pride, however, there are also three points up for grabs”.

Espanyol B: an attacking team

Espanyol B currently sit five points ahead of Quique Costas’ team. Also, none of the team have ever scored in Sant Adria. The offensive midfielder from Espanyol explains that the team led by Joan Francesc Ferrer Rubi: “we’re a team that is playing attacking football and scoring goals, however, this does not give us the right to go anywhere with the same attacking mentality. I think we are playing well and the results prove this”.

Barça B improving

Since stumbling in Barbastro, Barça B have not lost a game and are finally their style of play; things are improving. Marc Crosa, one of the more established players in the team, defines the season: “we’re a good team with lots of quality, however, we’re a young team and it’s taken a lot out of us to adapt to the category. The results haven’t been favourable. I’ve always talked about the factor of luck as important, this is something that has been in short supply. We’ve now put together a decent run of late and this has been very positive for the team.

Two footballers

Both Marc Crosas and Julian Lopez de Lerma are in the running for places in the first team line up. Julian Lopez is being watched closely by first team coach Ernesto Valverde. One of Julian’s key characteristics being his ability to read the game.

Marc Crosas gave his thoughts on his opposite: “he’s an important player who has a strong character and a lot of quality. He has great vision of play, plays fast and takes a lot to stop. He sees the errors made and he takes full advantage of the free space. Julian Lopez was also not short on praise for the blaugran player: “he’s a player with great technical ability, he knows where his team is and always knows where to position himself on the pitch. He also has a strong defensive game”.

Wishes for Sunday

Both players want the victory on Sunday. Julian Predicts a 2-0 home win, while Marc Crosa explains: “a victory for us, would be great”.

Thursday’s draw has paired F.C. Barcelona with Madrid-based club Getafe in the semifinals of the Spanish Cup. The first leg will be played in the Nou Camp.

The draw for the semifinals of the Spanish Cup has paired F.C. Barcelona with one of the revelations of the 2006-07 season, Getafe, managed by former F.C. Barcelona star Bernd Schuster. The two-leg tie is scheduled for 18th April and 9th May with the first leg to be played in Barcelona.

F.C. Barcelona and Getafe have already met once this season in matchday 17 of La Liga, when despite travelling to Madrid with many first team regulars unavailable, F.C. Barcelona took away a 1-1 draw thanks to a fabulous goal from a free kick by Xavi.

Only one previous Cup encounter

F.C. Barcelona and Getafe have only met once before in the history of the Spanish Cup. In the 1977-78 season, the two sides drew 3-3 in Madrid followed by an 8-0 thumping in the Nou Camp. That season F.C. Barcelona went on to win the Cup.

President Laporta on Getafe

As soon as he found out the result of the draw, Joan Laporta shared his opinions with F.C. Barcelona TV: “They are a very complicated team and we’ll have to work very hard to win the tie. I was speaking to the Getafe president, Angel Torres, at a meeting of the Spanish FA and they didn’t want to get F.C. Barcelona and we didn’t want Getafe. They’re having a great season in the Cup as well and they’re very excited about this competition, the same as us”. 

F.C. Barcelona’s Director of Football analysed today’s draw for the semifinals of the Spanish Cup for the programme “Zona Mixta” of F.C. Barcelona TV and highlighted Getafe’s excellent record in the competition this season.

Speaking on the F.C. Barcelona TV programme “Zona Mixta”, Txiki Begiristain expressed his satisfaction at avoiding Sevilla but warned against the danger posed by Getafe, saying: “We have to play well in the first leg in the Nou Camp but above all it’s important to reach the return leg in a good position”.

Glad to avoid Sevilla but…

“We’ve drawn Getafe. In theory, the league table says that we and Sevilla are the strongest sides. I prefer to play the Andaluses in the final. However, Txiki stressed that Getafe have had an excellent run in the Cup: “They’ve eliminated teams such as Osasuna and Valencia and we have to be careful because theyve done very well away from home”.

First leg at home

The first leg of the semifinal tie will be held in the Nou Camp on 18th April. Bearing in mind what happened against Zaragoza in the quarterfinals, Txiki said: “We have to play intelligently. The need to win the tie mustn’t confuse us - we have to be serious”.

The importance of the return leg

Txiki also stressed the importance of the return leg in the Coliseum Alfonso Pérez on 9th May and underlined his determination to go all the way in the competiton: “It’ll be vital to reach [the return leg] in good form. I want to be in the final. I love that build-up to the big duel accompanied by the massive movement of the fans”.

La Lliga, the first objective

Before the semifinal tie, FC Barcelona have some equally important league matches and, having re-established their lead at the top of the table thanks to the win in Huelva, Txiki Begiristain is convinced F.C. Barcelona can make it three league titles in a row: “It was a convincing victory that should re-launch us in the final phase of the season, just when we can see the real possibility of winning the third title in a row”.

As for the opponents over the remaining matches of the season, he revealed: “We make it seem easy against our opponents if we maintain our intensity and effectiveness at the back”. In general, he’s satisfied with the state of the team and stressed: “We have to be optimistic. Our opponents are closer than in previous seasons but we’re in a good position to manage it”.

The double

Txiki Begiristain also remarked on the difficulty of winning the league and the Cup in the same season: “The Club has only managed this four times in its history [but] the objective is to be fighting right up to the last moment for the two competitions”. 

Thursday’s training session for the twelve players not called away on international duty (plus Eidur Gudjohnsen who will join up with his Iceland collegues later) was held in the Miniestadi next to the Nou Camp.

The Barcelona weather was kinder to the players on Thursday and, after several days of freezing winds, the sun made a welcome reappearance.

Frank Rijkaard is now preparing for the next league encounter against Deportivo de la Corunya. The usual warm-up was followed by keep-ball exercises with the players brought together in a single group. The manager watched while the session was directed by the fitness coaches.

Circuit training

As always, the ball was present in all the exercises carried out by the players. After the initial warm-up and keep-ball exercises, the players divided up into two groups of six for an exercise using the entire length of the pitch. It consisted of breaking out from defensive positions and building up an attacking move using both long and short passes - thereby practising passing, stamina, accuracy and positioning.

The session was rounded off with a practice match. Wearing the yellow shirts were goalkeeper Víctor Valdés, plus Belletti, Sylvinho, Edmilson, Gudjohnsen and Giuly; and in the blue shirts were Albert Jorquera, Oleguer, Motta, Ezquerro, Messi and Javier Saviola. The match ended 9-8 in favour of the blue shirts.

Some unusual guests

Among the people present at training on Thursday were the deputy president of the govenment of New Caledonia togther with two representatives of the New Calendonia Supporters’ Club.

Assistant coach and former F.C. Barcelona star Eusebio has joined French winger Giuly in insisting that the Club must focus on the Cup semifinal against Getafe and avoid thinking ahead to a possible place in the final.

With the opponent in the Spanish Cup semifinal confirmed on Thursday morning, F.C. Barcelona coach Eusebio Sacristán and French international Ludovic Giuly spoke at a Nou Camp press conference to evaluate F.C. Barcelona’s chances of reaching the final. They both revealed that the players are excited about the prospect.

Focus on

Getafe Both Giuly and Eusebio stressed the need to concentrate on the tie against Getafe and avoid all speculation about a possible Cup final opponent. According to Giuly: “First we have to think about Getafe - as it will be a great match - and not the final. That would be disrespectful to Getafe”. Eusebio described the Madrid-based outfit managed by Bernd Schuster as: “A well-organised team that concedes very few goals and is having a great season. Getafe is especially motivated as this is an historic opportunity for them, and we have to take this into account”.

The home advantage

The first leg of the two-match tie will be played in the Nou Camp, which would appear to give Getafe a slight edge. Giuly told us: “I would have liked to play the first leg there” while Eusebio insisted: “You have to take the tie as it is. We have to have the calm and patience to develop the tie and play at our best level. Semifinals and finals are always 50/50 and what you have to do is change that. But above all, we mustn’t think were superior to anybody”.

Excited by the Cup

The players are well aware of the importance of the competition and, according to Giuly, are highly motivated by the prospect: “Winning the third league title and the Cup is important”. Meanwhile, Eusebio assured us: “These players have the chance of playing and winning the Spanish Cup. Every player should experience a Cup final. It’s a very important title”.

Giuly’s future with F.C. Barcelona

During the press conference, Ludovic Giuly also spoke about his future in the Club. Giuly still has a year to run on his current deal and insisted: “I’m very happy here and I’ll stay without any problem. I’d like to finish my career here”. However, when asked about the future of a number of his teammates, he revealed: “We’re not thinking about the future. There are still three months to end the season. Were fine here and I hope we all stay together”.