Following my reports on the standout performers in the Serbian and Irish squads in this year’s Under 17 European Championship, the next side under the spotlight is Spain. The Spanish coasted through their group with wins against Italy and Slovenia before drawing 1-1 against Serbia in the final round of matches. A comfortable 3-0 win against Ireland on Saturday means that Spain can now look forward to a semi-final encounter against France on Tuesday evening.
Players from Barcelona, Real Madrid, and Atletico Madrid make up the majority of the squad. Even though this is an age group tournament, the tiki-taka possession-based game that the senior side is famous for has been transferred to the youth team almost seamlessly. While the majority of the squad may already be out of Celtic’s reach, below are some of the top performers who helped take La Rojita to the semi-finals.
Lamine Yamal
Player Profile
- Nationality: Spanish / Equatorial Guinean
- Year Group: 2007 • Current Club: Barcelona
- Position: RW
- Foot: Left
- National Team: U17 / U19
The phrase “wonderkid” is often overused these days thanks to the Football Manager generation and the quest to find the next big thing. However, every so often, a player comes along who truly justifies the term. Lamine Yamal may be that player.
At the tender age of 15, Yamal has already played competitive minutes for the Barcelona first team, replacing Gavi as an 83rd-minute sub against Real Betis in La Liga, an appearance that won him a championship medal. During the U17 Euros so far, Yamal has chipped in with 3 goals and 2 assists in 4 appearances, earmarking himself as one of the standout players of the competition.
Naturally left-footed, Yamal plays on the right of the front three for Spain and is fond of cutting inside onto his stronger foot, curling efforts beyond the reach of the keeper, much like Paddy Roberts in his prime (we have to keep the lad’s feet on the ground). Unlike Roberts, his playmaking abilities come to the fore when the opposition finally decide to double up on him in-game.
From the games I have watched live and online, Yamal is the man who makes this Spanish side tick offensively. Quick and tricky on the ball, with a good eye for a pass and the execution to match, Yamal looks every inch the future star for Barcelona. There is big promise about him, so let’s hope he lives up to it and does not fade away like Bojan, another Barcelona prospect who seemingly had it all at the youth level.
Marc Guiu
Player Profile
- Nationality: Spanish
- Year Group: 2006
- Current Club: Barcelona
- Position: CF
- Foot: Right
- National Team: U17
At 1m83cm, Guiu is the focal point of the Spanish front three and has contributed 4 goals, with an xG of 2.19, in his four appearances in the tournament so far. Guiu is the Alvaro Morata of the youth team, and I mean that in the best way. While his teammates conform to tiki-taka rules, Guiu is a penalty box striker who simply scores goals. 3 of his 4 goals have come from no more than 10 yards out, with the other being a powerful strike from outside the penalty area.
It is Guiu’s movement and ability to find space in the box that have helped him stand apart from other strikers in the competition so far with his height and strength making up for his lack of pure technical ability in comparison to some of his teammates. It will be interesting to see where Guiu’s career takes him as he clearly has an eye for goal.
Alejandro Granados
Player Profile
- Nationality: Spanish
- Year Group: 2006
- Current Club: Orlando City (USA)
- Position: LCM
- Foot: Left
- National Team: U17
Granados is a rare find in this Spanish squad. Not only does he not play his football for Barcelona or either of the Madrid sides, but he does not even play his club football in Spain. Instead, Granados has come through the MLS system and is registered with Orlando City.
Despite not coming through the Spanish system and playing less than two full games across his four tournament appearances, Granados plays like a Spanish midfielder. His close control is first-rate, and he has the ability to play the simple yet effective pass almost every time. Starting against Ireland, Granados opened the scoring with a wonderful 25-yard effort that he placed into the top right-hand corner. Classy, athletic, and composed on the ball, Granados has the potential to become a very good midfielder in the years to come.
Pau Prim
Player Profile
- Nationality: Spanish
- Year Group: 2006
- Current Club: Barcelona
- Position: CDM
- Foot: Right
- National Team: U17
Like Yamal and Guiu, Prim is a product of the famous La Masia academy and is also the captain of the U17 side. Prim plays the #6 role and is this generation’s Sergio Busquets. Occupying the centAcademyition in Spain’s midfield three, Prim is the regulator who keeps the ball moving and recycles the play with great efficiency. However, unlike Busquets, Prim has a more offensive nature about his game—possibly more in the Xavi mould—as he tends to opt for the forward pass more often than not when it presents itself.
Tidy on the ball, Prim reads the game well and positions himself in good areas to receive passes or make interceptions. His vision and range of passing are both very impressive, giving the impression that he could become a long-term first-team player for Barcelona if he continues his current rate of development. As with Yamal, a year (or two) on loan at Celtic to help with his development would not go amiss.
Kevin McCluskie
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