Why Pedri isn't playing today for Spain vs. Belgium in World Cup quarterfinal

Why Pedri isn’t playing today for Spain vs. Belgium in World Cup quarterfinal originally appeared on The Sporting News.
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Pedri is a rising star as a midfielder for Barcelona and the Spanish national team.

But with Spain playing a World Cup quarterfinal on Friday against Belgium, Pedri isn’t starting. He’s on the bench to open the match as the starting 11 instead includes Fabian Ruiz.

Pedri hasn’t played a great tournament, but he’s been a lock starter throughout. Now, Spain turns in a different direction.

If it works, it’s the kind of move that looks brilliant but could create controversy in the next round.

If it doesn’t work, choosing to sit Pedri could be a major talking point.

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Why isn’t Pedri playing?

Pedri is out of the starting 11 most likely due to form — there doesn’t seem to be an injury at play.

He’s expected to be available off the bench if needed.

“Big call by Luis de la Fuente to leave Pedri out and start Fabian tonight,” The Athletic’s Dermot Corrigan wrote after the lineup news was announced. “It’s true that Pedri has not been at his best so far in this tournament, and Fabian did well off bench against Portugal.”

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It’s a bit of a flip side of Belgium’s big call in its Round of 16 win over the United States, when both Kevin De Bruyne and Jeremy Doku were named to the bench, not the first 11. That worked out, and both are starting on Friday with fresher legs.

The best-case scenario for Spain is a solid performance, with some confidence-building minutes off the bench for Pedri, to go into a World Cup semifinal at full confidence.

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