Dani Olmo: "Pedri is a gem, he will prove he is indispensable"

The star midfielder of the Spanish national team, Dani Olmo, used extremely praising words for his teammates Pedri and Lamine Yamal ahead of the 2026 World Cup quarter-final. Speaking at the press conference held in Los Angeles, Olmo stated that it is a great pleasure to train with Pedri every day and watch his game. The experienced player emphasized that Pedri makes tremendous contributions to the team even in moments when he has the ball at his feet or when he doesn't, stating that having him on the pitch alongside them provides extra motivation and confidence. Olmo expressed that this young talent, whom he also plays with at Barcelona, will continue to be an indispensable player for the Spain national team and will maintain this superior performance in the future.

Another important name highlighted by Dani Olmo was Lamine Yamal, one of the young stars of the tournament. Olmo noted that Yamal has left behind some minor troubles he experienced at the beginning of the tournament and is currently on the pitch with ever-increasing self-confidence. He pointed out that Yamal's in-game vision, his communication with teammates, and his on-pitch integration are at an excellent level. Emphasizing that even in moments when the young player is not producing goals or assists, he occupies the opposing defense single-handedly, opening up wide spaces for his teammates, Olmo expressed his belief that Yamal will offer much more in the quarter-final.

Speaking also about his own career and performance in the tournament, Olmo solidified his place in the starting eleven as the favorite of head coach Luis de la Fuente. The player, who stated that he has always had to prove himself in history and has turned this pressure into a personal source of motivation, said that he focuses on playing every moment on the pitch at the highest level. Playing an important role in this World Cup just as he did in the 2024 European Championship, Olmo feels that he adds balance and creativity to his team in midfield. He added to his words that Spain's main goal in the tournament is to play in the final and win the cup, and that for this great success, all players must be on the pitch at one hundred percent capacity.

Undoubtedly, one of the biggest weapons of the Spain national team in this tournament continues to be their defensive performance, having conceded only a single goal. Olmo stated that this defensive success is not solely the work of the back four or goalkeeper Unai Simón; the entire team possesses a collective defensive understanding, starting from the forwards. This block-style defensive strategy adopted by the technical staff in every match makes it almost impossible for opposing teams to create dangerous attacks. He added that closing the goal brings the team one step closer to winning every match and that the sacrifice of the entire team lies behind this historic success.

The Spanish team is currently at the pinnacle of world football, maintaining a 35-match unbeaten streak. It was stated that the biggest secret behind this statistical success, as emphasized by the head coach, is treating every match like a final. Highlighting that Belgium, whom they will face in the quarter-final, is an extremely tough and fully staffed opponent with players like Thibaut Courtois, one of the best goalkeepers in the world, Olmo also drew attention to the character they displayed against Senegal. He stated that Spain aims to win this tough challenge and potentially play against France or Morocco in the semi-final, and that they are focusing all their concentration on the Belgium match.