Pedri is experiencing one of the best summers in his football career so far. The Canarian arrived last summer as a promise to Barcelona and, just one year after his arrival at the Camp Nou, he is already established among the most absolute elite.
The one from Tegueste has been a fixture for Koeman at Barcelona, which earned him Luis Enrique's call for the Euro. When many believed that Pedri was worthy of merit, Luis Enrique granted him command in place and the consequent ownership in all the matches of the Eurocup, missing just one minute of all those that Spain was on the green when he was replaced by Rodri in the 119th of extra time against Switzerland so that the City player participated in the penalty shoot-out.
His excellent level with only 18 years is charging him with recognitions. First, Luis Enrique's arrived. “Has anyone noticed in the Euro what an 18-year-old boy named Pedri has done? Not even Don Andrés Iniesta has done it,” said the coach comparing the canary with that of Fuentealbilla. Now, it is UEFA that recognizes his game. This Monday, the organization awarded him the best youngster award and this Tuesday, Pedri appeared in the best eleven of the Eurocup.
The one of the islands is part of a luxury lineup that opens Donnarumma in goal, also named best player of the tournament, with a defense made up of Walker, Bonucci, Maguire and Spinazzola, who enters despite being injured in the quarterfinals against Belgium. In the middle, along with Pedri, there are Jorginho, who has set an excellent tournament with Italy and Hojberg, who dazzled with Denmark.
Up front there is surprise. UEFA left out Cristiano Ronaldo, the tournament's top scorer, and put Romelu Lukaku in his place, who scored one less goal than the Portuguese but advanced one round more precisely at the cost of defeating the Juventine forward's team. Above he is accompanied by two of the best players of the tournament: Federico Chiesa and Raheem Sterling. Both the Juventus and Manchester City winger have exhibited their best level in this European Championship, being incisive and decisive. Chiesa scored 1-0 against Spain in the semifinals and Sterling caused the controversial penalty against Denmark that ended up giving England a pass to the final.
Who has decided the eleven?
UEFA made public the committee of experts who have decided the best eleven of the Eurocup. Packie Bonner, Esteban Cambiasso, Fabio Capello, Cosmin Contra, Corinne Diacre, Jean-François Domergue, Dušan Fitzel, Steffen Freund, Frans Hoek, Aitor Karanka, Robbie Keane, Ginés Meléndez, David Moyes, Mixu Paatelainen, Peter Rudbæk and Willi Ruttensteiner were those chosen by the European confederation to assess and choose the best players in the tournament.