Pedri brace helps Spain thrash Northern Ireland before Euros

Alvaro Morata, Fabian Ruiz and Mikel Oyarzabal also netted for Luis de la Fuente's side in Mallorca, with wingers Nico Williams and Lamine Yamal oozing menace on the flanks.

Spain, in a Euros 'group of death' with Italy, Croatia and Albania, are aiming to win the competition for the fourth time. "I've worked hard to be in good shape at the end of the season," Pedri told 'Radio Marca'.

The playmaker was out injured for a large part of the season but has hit top form in the final weeks of the campaign. "Injuries are the worst thing about football, now I am doing a lot better," continued Pedri. "We'll go for (the Euros), with the idea of winning."

Spain thrashed Andorra 5-0 in a friendly earlier in the week before dismantling Northern Ireland. The visitors surprised Spain by taking the lead through Dan Ballard, who headed home a Caolan Boyd-Munce free-kick after just two minutes.

Isaac Price came close to a second before Spain recovered their poise and took complete control. Pedri pulled Spain level with a low drive from the edge of the box, before Alvaro Morata nodded 'La Roja' ahead from Jesus Navas' cross.

Barcelona midfielder Pedri struck again after a neat move and Fabian Ruiz headed home Lamine Yamal's cross for the fourth. The second half was a calmer affair although Mikel Oyarzabal did net Spain's fifth after electric 16-year-old Barcelona winger Yamal set him up.

"We came out a bit too relaxed with their goal, we can't make those type of mistakes, above all in the Euros, it will teach us a lesson," said Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Ruiz. "We have to note the attitude of the team, we turned the score around and we were brave."

Spain won the Euros in 2008 and 2012 but largely struggled since then until lifting the Nations League trophy last year. De la Fuente's side face Croatia in their opening Group B fixture in Berlin on June 15, a day after the tournament in Germany begins.

 

June 8, 2024