Why Spain need to pick Dani Olmo for their semi-final against France
The super-sub midfielder has two goals and two assists at Euro 2024. He has earned a starting spot
By Ben McAleer for WhoScored
Losing a key midfielder in the eighth minute of a quarter-final would prove the undoing of most sides. When Pedri was forced off in Spain’s eventual 2-1 win over Germany on Friday, having been on the receiving end of a nasty challenge from Toni Kroos, Luis de la Fuente had no need to panic. The Barcelona player has become a mainstay for the national team over the last few years, but Spain are blessed with many technically gifted midfielders.
The 21-year-old has suffered his fair share of injury issues in the past and is yet to play the full 90 minutes in any of his four outings at Euro 2024. In three of those games he has been replaced by Dani Olmo. That a player of Olmo’s calibre does not start for La Roja speaks volumes of the midfielders available to Spain. The RB Leipzig player has been a real asset when called upon in Germany: he has been directly involved in four of Spain’s 11 goals, scoring twice and providing two assists (a goal contribution every 66 minutes). He did not start the quarter-final against Germany, but he finished it with a goal, an assist and the player of the match award.
