Pedri continues to make international history with latest Spain start

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By Conor Laird

Published: July 2, 2021 5:03 pm

Last Updated: July 2, 2021 5:09 pm

Spanish talent Pedri’s latest start for his country has seen the Barcelona man etch his name ever further into the history books of international football.

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Back on song

Pedri and co. are of course currently locked in action with Switzerland in Saint Petersburg.

The clash marks the first of Euro 2020’s quarter-final stage, with La Roja aiming to build on remarkable back-to-back victories over the course of the last week.

After finally finding their goalscoring touch en route to a 5-0 drubbing of Slovakia in the country’s final group stage outing, Spain followed up with another 5-goal haul last time out, on their way to ousting Croatia from the Last-16.

5 – Spain are the first side in European Championship history to score 5+ goals in consecutive matches. Scenes. #EURO2020 pic.twitter.com/SAjCjQ9z0o

— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) June 28, 2021

Central to the upturn in form being enjoyed by Luis Enrique’s men have of course been substantially improved individual showings, with the likes of Sergio Busquets, Cesar Azpilicueta and Ferran Torres having thoroughly impressed.

History maker

None, though, has shone more brightly across La Roja’s last two fixtures than youngster Pedri.

The teenage midfielder, fresh off the back of a stellar debut campaign on the books of Barcelona, has showcased the kind of touch, poise and class generally associated with players far his senior, looking completely at home alongside the aforementioned Busquets and Koke in the middle of the park.

Pedri’s start versus Croatia last time out saw the Blaugrana man aptly rewarded for his recent efforts, in becoming the new holder of the record for youngest player to ever feature from the off in a knockout fixture at the European Championships.

And, as outlined above, on Friday, Pedri has continued to write his name into the history books.

This comes with the prodigious talent having joined Northern Ireland’s Norman Whiteside as one of only two European players to start five or more outings at a major tournament, whilst aged 18 or younger:

18y 219d- Pedri #ESP is only the second European player in major tournament history (WC / EUROs) to start as many as five such matches at the age of 18 or below, after Northern Ireland’s Norman Whiteside, who started five times when aged 17 at the 1982 World Cup. Early#EURO2020 pic.twitter.com/aH478fJo6N

— OptaJose (@OptaJose) July 2, 2021