REPORTER & PHOTOGRAPHER : Sujit Gangopadhyay , From Barcelona

India will face Europa tomorrow

PIC source :www.fcbarcelona.cat

31.07.2009 ::After winning the last match against EL Prat 2 - 0 India Team will face 3rd Divn. another Club Esportiu Europa. This is a Spanish/Catalan sports club, based in the Gracia district of Barcelona.

The club is best known for its football team who in 1928, along with city neighbours FC Barcelona and RCD Espanyol, were founder members of La Liga.

During the late 1990s they won the Copa Catalunya twice in succession, on both occasions beating FC Barcelona in the final. They currently play in Group 5 of the Tercera Division.

The Team Home Ground which is called Nou Sardenya (Capasity 7000), and their Practice Ground is called -The Eagle (Capasity 1600).

But the match may be played at Mini Estadi (Catalan for "Mini Stadium") which is a football stadium located in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain. The 15,276 seat stadium is situated across from Camp Nou, the home stadium of FC Barcelona. The stadium is home to FC Barcelona Atletic, FCB's reserve team.

The FC Barcelona complex lies to the north-west of the centre of Barcelona, in the Les Corts district. The closest Metro stations are Palau Reial and Collblanc.

Limitation of access for security reasons for tomorro's match against India . It has been learnt that for security reason spectators will come there by public invatitation.This will be the only friendly with the special condition of pre season campaign of Europa.

India will play 2nd friendly tomorrow at Barcelona


28.07.2009 :: Sujit Gangopadhyay, Barcelona ::Team India will play their second friendly on Wednesday against another Spanish third division side, Assiciacio Esportiva El Prat. The kick of time is 19.00 (Spainish Time) and 22.30 as Indian Time.

Associacio Esportiva Prat is a football team based in El Prat de Llobregat, Catalonia. Founded in 1945, it plays in 3ª - Group 5. Its stadium is Estadi Sagnier.

The name of the stadium where the match will be played is C.A.R (centre d’alt rendiment esportiu).It is situated at Sant Cugat del Valles.

Sant Cugat del Valles is a town and municipality west of Barcelona in Catalonia, Spain. In antiquity known as Castrum Octavianum, it is named after Saint Cucuphas, who is said to have been martyred on the spot now occupied by its medieval monastery, which has a Romanesque cloister with many historiatedcapitals.

Team India Manager Pradip chowdhury said Chowdhary said the players, who had a rest day yesterday, are in good spirit after the first friendly match which ended in a 1-1 draw. He also said that the players are in good spirit after playing their first competitive game together for a long time."

Regafding Sunil Chhetri Mr. Chowdhury added that the India team Striker Chhetri will play one of the four friendly games in Barcelona and the management is aiming the final one on August 5 for him to feature.


25.07.209 :: Today India's First Practice match in Barcelona




25.07.2009 :: Sujit Gangopadhyaya, Barcelona Spain :Today Indian Football Team will face U.E Castelldefels (Spain). The match timing is 18.00 hours (Indian time 21.30 hours).The Venue of the match is la bobila (stadium name), gava (located in area) - which is about 20 minutes drive from camp nou, barcelona (where Indian team hotel is).
The stadium name (exact) : camp municipal la bobila. It's a small stadium with capacity 5,000 .It is the home ground of C.F.GAVA .
Indian team Manager Mr. Pradip Chowdhury went to visit the stadium / ground and liked it.
The system of first - spanish league structure : (possible reference given to indian system for ease of understanding)



The Spanish Football League System:


Division 1 :: La Liga (Equal to I-league division 1) where all big teams like F.C Barcelona, Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid play .
Division 2A : Played at National level (same as Indian National league).
Division 2B : Played at regional level (same as kolkata Premier Football League /Mumbai Elite league, Goa Football League etc.)
Division 3 :Teams relegated / lower than above level play at regional level (may be compared to something like kolkata league division 2) & so on many more divisions / age group level etc.
Team india's first opponent is relegated from division 2B in the last football season & will be playing division 3 this year.


MATCH SEHEDULE

25th July 2009      1 - 1     
INDIA: Surkumar Singh 25' ::: UEC:javier gonzalez javi 56'(Pen)


The Full Schedule of India Team

29 July 2009 :: India   2 - 0   A.E. El Prat
IND: Abhishek Yadav

01 Aug 2009 :: India   1 - 1   Europa
IND: Baichung Bhutia 31' :: EUR :Xavi Padilla (pen 67') 05 Aug 2009 :: India   vs   Sant Boia C.F.

The fields were they will play are still to be confirmed.



MATCH REPORT (sujit Gangopadhyay)

India made 1 - 1 draw against Europa

02.08.2009 :: Sujit Gangopadhyay, Barcelona-Spain ::Team India again made a 1-1 draw against Sapnish 3rd Divn team Esportiu Europa.India scored first through captain Baichung but the Spanish side equalised. out of 3 games, this is the 2nd draw match of India in Spain friendly.

India   1 - 1   Esportiu Europa (Spain)
IND: Baichung Bhutia 31' :: EUR:Xavi Padilla (pen 67')

90' - Match ended in 1 - 1 draw..
88' - corner taken - sunil chetri defending inside indian box - guess d kind of pressure on Indian defense.
84' - India's thro deep inside europa half - nothing resulted - Europa on break - almost scored - saved by subrata for corner
81' - foul on anthony - renedy takes free kick - manju heads inside 6 yrd box - yadav cud not put it in - just above posts
78' - freekick favoring india - renedy takes - foul by sunil in attempt to connect
75' - attack fm europa. - cross fm left had open goal - shot goes just wide.Eeuropa attacks & indians defending - now finally sur kumar pass to abhishek resulted in corner Abhishek & sunil almsot scored
72' - another attack fm europa - volley fm just inside d box - goes above post

70' -europa dominating things - waves of attacks..Surkumar tackles just on edge of d box - resulted penalty & goal - subrata dived on opposite direction
62' - - waves of attacks fm europa - one shot fm outsie box saved by subrata - immediate next attack results in corner - again took by subrata but this also after coming out of hand
60' - another attack cross fm left - acrobatic save by subrata
57' - another attack -pass fm right by dias - bhaichung shoots just side
59' - europa attacking - consequtive corners - ball almost goes out of diving subrata's hand - almost creating danger - however saved by himself

56' - free kick outside indian box for europa - saved & counter attack fm india - slight delay fm bhaichung allows defence to clear
54' - india's free - kick taken by climax - sunil offside inside d box
53' - europa attack - looping cross goes strt to subrata
51' - india on counter offense now - sur kumar on overlap - throw
50' - another good attack fm europa fm left side - cross goes just wide
48' - counter attack by europa - shoots just above d bar
47' - india slowly trying to get their grip back on match
46' - Europa is playing better in 2nd half - continueous attacks - cleared by sur kumar for throw

46' - Start of 2nd half - sunil chetri is fielded - subtituing sushil sing .SUNIL chetri is on for 1st time in spain / barca - 2nd half starts
45' - Half time - India 1 - 0 Europa.
44' - Dias & Bhaichung combining well in The right Side.
43' - Well co- ordinated attack by India - Bhaichung passes Dias in free to the right who crosses in & Pradeep's flying header just above d bar - almost scored
39' - Europa trying to get back into d match however Indian defense holding well & not with much probs
37' - Dias free kick into box but Sushil fouls a defender of europa
33' - free kick fm dias inside box - header attepted by sushil & bhaichung - saved by GK

31' - - GOAL............. from Bhaichiung .. Long ball from indian defence had bhaichung in free inside box - received & cool placement for 1st goal for india & bhaichung in spain India leads 1 goals to nil
30' - Another good attack - Sushil chests & manages to pass to Dias - another chance - Dias delayed a bit ..paseed to Baichung
28' - Dias pass aimed for sushil - little long - just out
27' - Bhaichung back head inside box - Dias had it in clear - shoots above d post - open chance wasted
26 ' - foul by Antony at mid of Indian half - free kick finally resulted in off side
24' - Stephen Dias tries a long ranger however goes above d post
23' - Sushil receive d ball outside box & shoots but GK saves well
22' - Bhaichung shot goes way up of post
20' -Indian on attack - Pradeep's shot at goal saved by GK
18' - Bhaichung earned another corner on solo effort
16' - Now offside favoring India on Europa attack
15' - Bhaichung passes forward but Sushil offside
14' - Bhaichung earned a corner after throw for India

12' - Danger avoided at indian goal at cost of corner by surkumar - had it in open - nice attack from Europa.
10' - Long cross from right by Steven Dias - Bhaichung tries a diving head inside box - not connected to perfection - goes to opponent GK
5' - India on attack - pass from Bahichung. - Sushil's cross from right goes out
4' - Another attack from Europa - shot goes out. So far match on balance
3' - Sushil's shot blocked by Europa defender
2' - Responded by India with counter attack - Antony's cross goes out
1' - Early attack from Europa from the starting
Warm Up:Today's match is restricted for security purpose - only on invitation in Mini Stadium of Barcelona..Players of both the teams are warming up now. Today India will play as regular system i,e, 11 Players and 3 extras

India : Subrata Paul, Surkumar Singh , Gourmangi Singh, Climax Lawrance ,Bhaichung Bhutia (Abhishek Yadav),Sushil Kr. Singh (Sunil Chhetri 46'), Anwar Ali, Antony Pereira, Steven Dias ,N.S.Manju,N.P.Pradeep,

EUROPA :: Adri, Xavi Roca, Ramon Suarez, Sergio, Victor, Ivan Alvarez, Nefter, Delmas, Gatell Llobet ,Tambe van jugar, Canadas
Sub :: Alex, Cano, Diego, Denis, Garcia, Valderas, Xavi, Padilla, Josu i Plana. Canadas, Alex, Cano, Diego, Denis, Garcia, Valderas, Xavi Padilla, Josu and Plana.
Referee : Raul Calle Martinez (Barcelona)

India Beat Spanish Team El Prat 2 - 0


29.07.2009 :: India won the 2nd match against Spanish 3rd Divn Team EL.Prat 2 - 0 today. Abhishek Yadav Scored both the goals for India.

FT :India beat El prat by 2 - 0 in their 2nd match at Barcelona, Spain.
95' :El prat attack on break - saved by Govin.Match end.
90' :Match on added time now .5 minutes added.. Attacks by India - yadav could not have had his hattrick chance.
87' : India brought down pace of the match
75' : el prat trying to get back into the match - good attempt hit just out side net


70' :GOAL again.Deepak crosses from right on overlap - low one - yadav dives forward & heads into net - left of GK who has no chance to save .India 2 - el prat 0
69' : free kick for india at half line - renedy takes - el prat tries on break - strt to GK
65' : Small water break on 20 mins of 2nd half .Still india is leading 1 - 0. Match re starts after water break
65' nabi passes to yadav in box who shoots but blocked by defender Deepak giving heart out in defending with captain's band on arm Team india dominating .
62' - el prat attack on break - saved
61' -A nother attack - nabi shot goes out - goal kick Another attack - saved by deepak
61': Score india 1 - el prat 0 .
59': cliford pass finds yadav in front of goal - clear chance - just to put on goal - missed
55': cliford runs down left wing earms a thow
52': foul on nabi in el prat half Renedy takes it - Mehraj heads - goes out for goal kick without any trouble.India is having better ball possession in 2nd half - as of now dominating things
48': renedy long pass to nabi - chested down for yadav - cud not get clear space to shoot - cliford attempts - goal kick
46': Renedy took free kick - Nabi could not connect the header.
45': Still the match is goalless.India is trying to attcak from left flank..It's now Half time . score 0 - 0.


43': india trying to build an attack - manju shoot to GK
41': india attack on break - Bhaichung charged - GK saved
38': india attack on break - Bhaichung shoots shots to d defender El prat attack - results in goal kick for india
37': waves of attack of el prat - saved 2 times by gourmangi - finally feeble shot from inside box - saved subrata
34': foul on sushil at centre line - pradeep takes for bhaichung in box - cud not reach - defender heads back to GK
32': another indian attack - bhaichung / sushil - went out
30': chance for climax - shot goes out from just outside the box
24':El Prat is playing much better after break - waves of attacks
23': El Prat attacked from a throw in - ball goes out.. Goal kick from subrata - interpreted by El Prat. El Prat on attack - subrata takes a ball on edge of the box - sort of misunderstanding with defense.
21':Match restarts after short break
20' :India on break - Bhaichung shoots - just wide - passed from Surkumar straight to Prat Goalkeeper.Amazingly referee gives break at 20 min for water drinks - due to high temperature here.
19' :Manju on overlap - pass to Bhaichung - not able to reach el prat attack - in d box - saved by Manju
18' :Pradeep misded pass ball back in mid field
17' :El prat attack - off side ..Another attack - this time center goes to subrata
16' :Sushil header - reflected - Sur Kumar shoots - went out
14' : El prat attacking now - goal kick - Subrata takes it
12' : El prat attack on the break - shot went out
10' :India attack - Bhaichung head - Sushil cud not reach The ball
8' : Corner for india - wasted

THE TWO TEMS

India (2nd Half):Subrata Pal,Mahesh Gawli, N.Mohanraj,M.Govin Singh, Jagpreet Singh, Mehrajuddin,Renedy Singh ,Cliford Miranda, Deepak Mondol,Rahim Nabi,Abhishek Yadav.

India (1st Half): Subrata Pal,N.S.Manju,Surkumar Singh,Gourmangi Singh, N.P.Pradeep, Anwar Ali, Climax Lawrance ,Antony Pereira ,Steven Dias, Bhaichung Bhutia ,Sushil Singh.

AEP: Toni Munoz,Arnau Rubio,Rafa Murillo,Alex Perez,Carlos Gonzalez, Ernest Sells,Victor Diego,Fernando Nunez,Sergio Cirio, Javier Lara, Iguel Rubio

Spanish 3rd Divn team hold India 1 - 1 in practice match




25.07.2009 :: Sujit Gangopadhyay, Barcelona :: Indian team were playing their first match against Spanish 3rd Division Team UE Castelldefels today at Gava Stadium Complex . The match started at 9.30 PM India Time. The match ended a 1 - 1 draw .

India coach Bob Houghton devided the team into two parts A and B where team A played in first half and team B played in second half . Sameer Naik pulling a hamstring on his right leg during a practice session on Friday, N.S. Manju replaced him as the left back.

India took the lead in the first half .In 25th minutes following a clearance from the deep an overlapping Surkumar Singh received the ball and his powerful volly did not give rival goalkeeper Sergio a chance to save (1- 0).

In the 2nd half the Spanish Team equalised the goal through a penalty when India defender Mehrajuddin fould a Spain striker in the Box. javier gonzalez javi scored the goal for Spanish Team.


Post Match reaction: Team India Coach Bob Houghton thinks it's important that all the players had a game - at this early part of season, match result really not matters that much. Striker Sunil chetrei might paly on august 1 match against Europa.

Subarta Paul palyed full match & expected in next matches as well because rest of Goalkeepers had games althrough last season in india while he played very less & its important that he comes back in form Prominent .

Spanish TV. Channel 5 (channel cinco)interviewed subrata pal & Bob Houghton immediately after the match.

After the match it looks like that the India team is more or less satisfied with the result.

Next match of India on 29th July against A.E. El Prat and 1st August against 3rd Division Team Europa.




2 Teams Players List ::
India Team B (Played 2nd Half) :: Subrata Paul, Deepak Mondal,Mahesh Gauli,N.S.Manju (Mohonraj 72'), Meharajuddin, Renedy singh, Baldeep singh,Rakesh Masih, Cliford Miranda,Avhisekh Yadav,Rahim nabi,

India Team A (Played 1st Half) :: Subrata Paul,Surkumar Singh, Anwar Ali, Gourmangi Singh, N.S.Manju, Steven Dias, Climax Lawrence, N.P Pradeep, Antony Pereira, Bhaichung Bhutia, Sushil Singh.

Subs :: Subhashis Roy Chowdhury , Arindam Bhatttacharyya ,N. Mohanraj, M.Govin singh, Jagpreet Singh.

U.E. C :: Alberto Gallego ,Achille Llobet, Alex Gomez, Alberto Ramos, Juan Pablo, Roberto Naise,Fernando Nando, Daniel Fermoselle, Gilberto Oliveir, Javier Gonzalez Javi, Marc Lavilla....Goalkeeper Change - U.E.C 30'


90': The Final score line is 1 - 1.
85' - india attack - abhishek yadav header loops to GK
82' - attack of india - abhishek yadav offside..
80' - freekick for india - taken by renedy - header from mahesh gawli - none resulted
76' - corner wated - EU cast breaking - hand ball agnst abhishek yadav
74' - yellow card shown to indian defender
73' - EU cast putting lot of pressure - consequive corners - save fom subrata
70' - Attempt from rahim nabi - went out
56': Goal..netted by javier gonzalez javi. The score line is 1 - 1.
55': Penalty against India - foul in box by Mehraj - however decision slightly doubtful..
45': India is leading by 1 - 0 in First Half scored by Surkumar singh on 25th Minutes

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