Euro 2024: Spain Dominates Against Northern Ireland with a Pedri Brace
Published on 08/06/2024 at 23:40
Spain was efficient against Northern Ireland thanks to the duo of Pedri and Lamine Yamal in their final match before Euro 2024, on Saturday (5-1).
Trailing 1-0 as early as the second minute, Spain ultimately crushed Northern Ireland 5-1 on Saturday in Majorca, with Pedri scoring a brace in their final friendly match before Euro 2024, where they are seen as underdogs.
The two-time European champions in 2008 and 2012 gained confidence with their second “manita” in a week, following their 5-0 victory against Andorra last Wednesday, one week before their opening match against Croatia led by Luka Modric.
Spain, caught off guard by a deflected free-kick from Northern Irish defender Ballard (2nd), equalized with a clear shot from twenty meters by their playmaker Pedri (12th), who returned to the national team for the first time since the 2022 World Cup during this gathering.
The collective machine of the Spanish team then started rolling, with their second goal symbolizing the balance of their squad between youth and experience: 16-year-old Lamine Yamal assisted veteran Sevilla player Jesus Navas, 38, on the right flank, who delivered a perfect cross to captain Alvaro Morata (18th).
In a similar play on the opposite side of the field, Athletic Bilbao winger Nico Williams, well fed by Chelsea’s Marc Cucurella, made the difference and set up Pedri for his second goal (29th).
The young Barcelona talent Lamine Yamal, who will be Spain’s main offensive threat at Euro 2024, then took over and assisted the fourth and fifth goals to Fabian Ruiz (35th) and Mikel Oyarzabal (60th).
Spain will face Italy, Croatia, and Albania in Group B, considered the toughest group in the competition.