Bojan to miss six games due to u-21 world cup

Catalan sports paper Sport claims that Barcelona forward Bojan Krkic (18) will most probably be called-up for the World Cup Under-21, that will be played in Egypt from 24 September until 16 october.

If he is selected, Bojan will miss the league games against Atlético Madrid, Racing Santander, Málaga and Almería, and the two first games of the Champions League group stage.

Read more:
Advertisement of the day: Bojan
Bojan scored illegal goal

International: Spain under-21 close to elimination

Spain u-21 lost 0-2 to England u-21 yesterday. Barcelona player Bojan started the game and was replaced by Capel after one hour of play. After two games, Spain is close to being eliminated from the tournament. They now must beat Finland on Monday and hope England defeat Germany.

International: Euro under-21 has started

Brazil defeated yesterday Egypt 4-3 in the Confederations cup. Barcelona player Daniel Alves played the whole game.




Spain u-21 played yesterday their first game of the European championships u-21 and drew nil-all with Germany. Barcelona player Bojan Krkic started the game and was replaced ten minutes before the end.

International: Spain debut for Busquets

Spain defeated Turkey 1-2. Barcelona players Gerard Piqué and Xavi played the whole game. Barcelona midfielder Sergio Busquets made his debut for the Spanish national team by replacing Silva in the 74th minute (1-1). Xavi got booked at the end of the first half.

1. Spain (6) 18
2. Bosnia-Herzegovina (6) 12
3. Turkey (6) 8
4. Belgium (6) 7
5. Estonia (6) 5
6. Armenia (6) 1

the group winner qualifies for the world cup, the eight best runners-up (nine qualifying groups) will compete in two-legged play-offs for a ticket
























France defeated Lithuania 1-0. Barcelona forward Thierry Henry acted as captain and played the whole game.

1. Serbia (5) 12
2. France (5) 10
3. Lithuania (6) 9
4. Austria (5) 7
5. Romania (5) 4
6. Faroe Islands (4) 1

the group winner qualifies for the world cup, the eight best runners-up (nine qualifying groups) will compete in two-legged play-offs for a ticket






























Belarus defeated Kazakhstan 1-5. Barcelona attacker Alexander Hleb played the whole game and scored the first goal of his team (1-1) in the 48th minute.

1. England (5) 15
2. Croatia (5) 10
3. Ukraine (4) 7
4. Belarus (4) 6
5. Kazakhstan (5) 3
6. Andorra (5) 0

the group winner qualifies for the world cup, the eight best runners-up (nine qualifying groups) will compete in two-legged play-offs for a ticket
























Iceland lost 2-1 against Scotland. Barcelona attacker Eidur gudjohnsen played the whole game.

1. Netherlands (5) 15
2. Scotland (5) 7
3. Iceland (5) 4
4. FYR Macedonia (4) 3
5. Norway (3) 2

the group winner qualifies for the world cup, the eight best runners-up (nine qualifying groups) will compete in two-legged play-offs for a ticket




















Spain under-21 and Sweden under-21 drew 0-0 on Tuesday. Barcelona forward Bojan Krkic played the whole game.

International: Mino makes under-21 debut

Barcelona Atlètic goalkeeper Rubén Miño (20) made yesterday his debut with the Spanish under-21 national team in the friendly game against the Irish under-21. Ireland defeated Spain 2-1.

Miño played the whole match. Barcelona Atlètic winger Jeffren (21) started the game and was replaced after 72 minutes. Barcelona Atlètic central defender Alberto Botía (20) stayed on the bench for the whole game. Celtic Glasgow midfielder and former Barcelona player Marc Crosas (21) also made his debut and played for an hour.

International: Jeffren and Botia make U21 debut

Barcelona Atlètic central defender Alberto Botía and Barcelona Atlètic winger Jeffren made yesterday their debut with the Spanish under-21 national team.

Botía came on as a substitute in the 21st minute, Jeffren did the same in the 61st minute. Barcelona forward Bojan Krkic played the whole game, in which Spain and Norway drew one all. Barcelona Atlètic goalkeeper Miño stayed on the bench.



Barcelona right back Dani Alves played the last twenty minutes of the Brazil-Italy friendly game. Brazil defeated the world champions 2-0.

Difficult 'Spain or Venezuela' choice for Jeffren

Spanish football site Airfutbol claimed this weekend that Barcelona Atlètic winger Jeffren Suárez (21) had doubts on playing with the Spanish under-21 national team this week because this could prevent him from playing in the future for Venezuela, his country of birth.

Although Jeffren, who was part of the Spanish squad that won the European under-19 Championship in 2006, has played for Spanish youth teams before, participating in tonight's friendly game against Norway could mean there's no way back: once you turned 21 and you play for one country, you aren't able to play for another country anymore.

Read more:
Barça B: Mino, Botia and Jeffren called-up for u-21
Barça B: Celtic target Jeffren can leave
Barça B: Victor Vazquez and Jeffren sign renewal

Barça B: Mino, Botia and Jeffren called-up for u-21

Barcelona Atlètic goalkeeper Rubén Miño (20), Barcelona Atlètic central defender Alberto Botía and Barcelona Atlètic winger Jeffren (21) have for the first time been called-up for the Spanish under-21 national team.

The three players of Barcelona's second team were included, along with Barcelona player Bojan Krkic, in the squad that will face the Norwegian u-21 national team on Tuesday.

Read more:
First international call-up for Piqué and Busquets
Barça B - Benja: "I'm very happy to return"
First international call-up for Busquets

International: Spain u-21 drawn in tough group

During yesterday's draw for the 2009 UEFA European Under-21 Championship in Sweden next summer, the Spanish team has been drawn in group B, along with England, Germany and Finland.

Group A consists of Sweden, Italy, Belarus and Serbia. The tournament begins on 15 June. The top two in each group will advance to the semi-finals. The tournament concludes with the final on 29 June.

The group stage match schedule for Spain looks like this:

Monday 15 June: Spain-Germany
Thursday 18 June Spain-England
Monday 22 June: Finland-Spain

Barcelona players Gerard Piqué (21), Sergio Busquets (20), Pedro (21) and Bojan (18) have participated in qualifying matches for this tournament.

Read more:
International: Spain qualifies for Euro under-21
International: Busquets scores in Spain debut
International: Piqué, Pedro and Gai

International: Busquets loses against Portugal

Spain's under-21 national team lost yesterday a friendly game against Portugal with 4-1.

Spain is preparing for the European under-21 championship in Sweden next summer.

Barcelona player Sergio Busquets (20) acted the whole match as defensive midfielder in a 4-2-3-1.




Read more:
International: Busquets scores in Spain debut
International: Spain qualifies for Euro under-21
First international call-up for Busquets

International: Spain qualifies for Euro under-21

With a 3-1 victory after extra time against Switzerland, Spain qualified on Tuesday for the European under-21 championship next summer.

Barcelona central defender Gerard Piqué (21) and Barcelona forward Bojan (18) played the whole match.

Barcelona defensive midfielder Sergio Busquets (20) entered in the 76th minute and got booked. Barcelona wing attacker Pedro (21) got injured during training last week (read more here).

Israel was eliminated yesterday after a 1-3 loss against Italy. Barcelona Atlètic wing attacker Gai Assulin (17) played the whole game.



The draw for the final tournament takes place on Wednesday 3 December at the Svenska Mässan exhibition centre in Gothenburg.

Qualified nations for the 2009 UEFA European Under-21 Championship:
Belarus
England
Finland
Germany
Italy
Serbia
Spain
Sweden

International: Busquets scores in Spain debut

The Spanish u-21 national team lost yesterday with 2-1 against Switzerland.

Barcelona central defender Gerard Piqué (21), Barcelona defensive midfielder Sergio Busquets (20) and Barcelona forward Bojan (18) started the game. Barcelona wing attacker Pedro (21) got injured during training earlier this week (read more here).

Busquets, who made his international debut, scored the 0-1 in the 18th minute with a header out of a corner kick. The Catalan midfielder, who got booked for protesting, was replaced in the 67th minute. Piqué and Bojan played the whole match.

Barcelona Atlètic wing attacker Gai Assulin (17) played yesterday with the Israel u-21 team against Italy. The game ended with a scoreless draw. Gai was replaced in the 81st minute.

On Tuesday, the return games will be played. The winners of the ties qualify for the UEFA European Under-21 Championship that will take place in Sweden in June next year.

First international call-up for Busquets

Barcelona defensive midfielder Sergio Busquets (20) has been called-up for the Spanish U-21 national team. This is the first international call-up for the Catalan player.

This month, the Spanish U-21 will play a two-legged tie against Switzerland to qualify for the UEFA European Under-21 Championship in June next year.

Barcelona central defender Gerard Piqué (21), Barcelona wing attacker Pedro (21), who made his debut with the U-21 last month (read more here) and Barcelona forward Bojan (18), who made his debut with the senior team last month (read more here) are also part of the squad. Almería central defender Chico (21), who played last season for Barcelona B, received his first call-up.

Barcelona Atlètic wing attacker Gai Assulin (17) will play a tie against Italy with the Israel U-21 national team.

Read more:
International: Piqué, Pedro and Gai

Barça B - Official: Chico to Almeria

International: Bojan makes debut for Spain

International: Piqué, Pedro and Gai

Barcelona central defender Gerard Piqué(21) and Barcelona wing attacker Pedro (21) won yesterday with the Spanish Under-21 national team against Russia with 2-0.

In the 76th minute Piqué, who was the captain of the team, scored the second goal with a header out of a corner kick. Pedro was replaced after 72 minutes (1-0).

Barcelona Atlètic wing attacker Gai Assulin (17) played with Israel 0-0 against Germany. He was replaced in the 62nd minute.

Spain (as group winner) and Israel (as one of four best runner-ups) qualified for the play-offs. The winners from each two-legged tie, that will be played next month, will join hosts Sweden in the UEFA European Under-21 Championship in June next year.