Pedri Returns to Form with Goals
Pedri scored twice in Spain's 5-1 friendly win against Northern Ireland, his first goals for Spain.
The Barcelona midfielder made his senior debut for Spain in March 2021 and has appeared at a Euros and a World Cup finals since then.
Pedri's goals came after a long wait, with the midfielder having suffered seven different muscle injuries over the past three seasons.
He has played 73 games in less than 12 months for club and country, which led to concerns from the FIFPro players union that he needed a proper rest.
The game against Northern Ireland was Pedri's 20th senior cap, and his first appearance for La Roja since the 2022 World Cup 18 months ago.
Spain coach Luis de la Fuente had publicly doubted whether Pedri would even make the final squad for Euro 2024 after another club campaign in which he was questioned more than ever before.
The next month will give Pedri the opportunity to make up for lost time and prove his quality and fitness at Euro 2024.
Pedri arrived at Barcelona in summer 2020 from Las Palmas, aged 17, and immediately established himself in their first team alongside Lionel Messi and Sergio Busquets.
He made his Spain Under-21 debut that October and was fast-tracked into the senior side by head coach Luis Enrique by March.
At the delayed Euro 2020, Pedri was named young player of the tournament after putting in a series of mature and influential performances to help La Roja reach the semi-finals.
He was the only Spain player chosen in the tournament's official XI, with his creativity and control drawing comparisons to Andres Iniesta and Xavi.
Pedri's first senior season stretched all the way to August's Olympic Games in Tokyo, where a team coached by De la Fuente reached the final before being beaten by Brazil.
The problems with injuries were not just in one area, with muscles in different zones of both legs affected, and Pedri suffered his first muscle injury within a fortnight of starting the opening La Liga game of the 2021-22 season.
During the past three seasons, Pedri's longest run of fitness was the five months from the start of 2022-23 through to the four games at the World Cup in Qatar.
But he suffered yet another right thigh muscle injury in February last year, and after returning within a month, he soon picked up another injury.
Pedri is still only 21, and the next month will be crucial in determining his future at both club and international level.
The midfielder has the opportunity to prove his quality and fitness at Euro 2024 and make up for lost time.
Pedri's return to form is a significant boost for Spain ahead of the tournament, and he will be looking to make a major impact.
The European Championship starts on Saturday, with Spain's opening game against Croatia, and Pedri will be eager to make his mark.