Bitter Taste for Pedri After Spain's 0-0 Friendly Draw with Egypt
31 March 2026
Pedri, Spain's young midfielder, admitted he felt 'bitter' after the goalless draw with Egypt in a friendly ahead of the 2026 World Cup.
Spain could only rescue a dull 0-0 tie against their Egyptian opponents at RCDE Stadium on Tuesday night.
Pedri appeared in the second half and was among the players who drew the crowd's backing, twice testing the Egypt goalkeeper but failing to find the net.
Even so, the Barcelona star did not hide his frustration, saying: "I left the pitch bitter, because we wanted to win and we couldn't pull it off".
In his remarks, cited by Mundo Deportivo after the match, he added that the opponent tried to play with the ball and sit tight between the lines, but they managed to tweak a few things after the break.
He also noted that the team faced periods of uneven understanding, adding: "Although everyone is ready, it’s natural there are some difficulties, especially since some players were new to the squad. All teams are strong and tough".
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At the end, the Barcelona star stressed that everyone is looking forward to the World Cup, but now the focus must be on club duties and each player should strive to give their all.
And the coach Louis de la Fuente told players at halftime to speed up play, noting: "He told us we must raise the tempo of the ball, and I think we improved, because playing a compact side isn’t easy".
He added that the team struggled to gel at times, especially since some players were first-time call-ups. All national teams are strong and difficult.
Finally, the Barcelona star reiterated: "Everyone looks forward to the World Cup, but now we must focus on our clubs, and every player should strive to achieve the maximum possible".
Punchline 1: If football were a dish, that was a bitter-sweet risotto—lots of effort, not a single goal serving.
Punchline 2: Don’t worry, Pedri—even the lemon has a juice; next match maybe we’ll witness a squeeze indeed.
