Eurosport - Fri, 19 Jun 12:05:00 2009
Teenage striker Bojan Krkic is Barcelona's best bench-warmer - but what are his prospects of going on to greater stardom? We take a look.
Throughout the European U21 Championship we will be compiling scouting reports on some of the continent's biggest talents.
Background:
Despite his exotic name - which comes courtesy of his Serbian father- the 18-year-old was born and raised in the Spanish town of Linyola, and after his stand-out performances in the 2006 European U17 championships became one of the hottest properties in European football.
Having joined Barcelona as a youngster, he started turning out for the side regularly in the 2007/08 season, but you can't help wondering where he goes from here.
True, learning your craft at Barca, surrounded by players such as Lionel Messi and Thierry Henry, is a little like learning to paint by hanging around Pablo Picasso's studio and keeping your ears open when Michelangelo and Joshua Reynolds pop round for coffee.
But how many chances will he get to make his own name? After scoring 10 goals in 40 performances in that debut season, he took to the pitch just 14 times for Barca last term, and 13 of those run-outs were as a substitute.
Would he ever leave the club? Well, he's been with them since he was a kid - eight years old, in fact - and is the leading goalscorer in Barca's youth team history. He loves the place.
Still, a big performance in this championship is exactly what he needs if he's to attract a high-profile loan stint with a top club; and if not, then at least to force his way into Pep Guardiola's reckoning for the new season - particularly if Samuel Eto'o does actually get round to leaving this time.
Sadly for Bojan, however, a big performance was lacking as he struggled to make his mark as part of a poor Spanish team.
Though he was starved of service, he seemed horrendously short of match sharpness with his passing and movement.
Even though he had one decently-struck shot just before half-time to show his quality, a bit of poor control when played into a promising position just after the break betrayed a player who looks out of sorts.
He was substituted not long after for replacement Diego Capel who was equally anonymous, suggesting that the lack of service and England's defensive excellence might have been at the heart of his lacklustre showing.
Key moments:
37' - After a quiet start to the match, finally has enough space to get a shot away - and unleashes a stunning curler from 25 yards that beat Joe Hart and almost found the top right corner.
49 - Raul Garcia played him in to space on the edge of the box, but miscontolled badly, with the ball careening off his toe and into the path of a defender. Unsurprisingly, substituted not long afterwards.
Dribbling - 5/10
Pace - 7/10
Movement - 6/10
Passing - 7/10
Finishing - 8/10
Approximate value: £18m
Proposed destinations: Tottenham, Blackburn
OTHER NOTABLE PLAYERS IN ACTION
SPAIN (v England)
Raul Garcia - The playmaker spent much of his first half looking for intelligent through-balls to open up the defence - and much of his second half resorting to speculative long-range efforts as he despaired of the woeful efforts of his team-mates.
Hard to perform well in isolation, but was Spain's best player - other than the superb Sergio Asenjo in goal.
Diego Capel - Replaced Bojan with just over half an hour left, but was equally as ineffective as the man he took over from.
ENGLAND (v Spain)
Frazier Campbell - Came on when Gabriel Agbonlahor limped off just before half-time, and took his goal in absolutely superb fashion with a clever cut back that split the defence cleanly open.
GERMANY (v Finland)
Manuel Neuer - The keeper did not have a great deal to do against Finland, but was solid enough when called upon - such as when Perparim Hetemaj tested him at full-stretch with a drive in the second half.
Marko Marin - Replaced by Anis Ben-Hatira seconds before the second and final goal. His main contribution was a late studs-up challenge on Finland keeper Anssi Jaakkola, which drew a yellow card - but could have resulted in a worse punishment.
Mesut Ozeil - The most important player on the pitch in the second half: he made two goals in two minutes, one with a free-kick for Benedikt Hoewedes to score and the other with an unselfish and visionary instant lay-off when put through to give Ashkan Dejagah an open goal.
FINLAND (v Germany)
Teemu Pukki - Very similar contribution to the opener against England. Came on in the second half and was booked for a high challenge after 25 seconds, before seeing a turn and shot saved by Germany keeper Neuer.
Comment 1 - 9 of 9
Visca el Barca!!!
stupid article
Bojan is not a such good player but i think he will be.
i think bojan should stay...just wait...his chances will come...iniesta wasnt a big part 3 seasons ago...just a bench-warmer...see now...potential best player of the year...just wait...u'll be a barca legend too...
if youngster like this go anywhere..he will be either like fabregas or dos santos..think about it..jz stay at barca..
kenny, if you spend a lot of money training somebody. Would you like it if that person leave you right after 10 years of free training? Clubs take bet by training little kids. It's only right for them to get some form of payment later.
There is always big talk about these young Barca player becoming world greats!
9 times out of 10 (Cesc Fab being the odd one out) Barca dont let them go.
Look a Dos Santos last year big talk at Barca then comes to England and could be named in the worst 5 players in the league last season!
He was shocking!! and that is an understatment!
I think it'd be fair to rate his movement a bit lower, he tends to stagnate a lot when not getting service. however his dribbling ability is class, he didn't show it that game but control has never been a problem for him. i think dribbling should be a 7 or 8 and movement should be much lower.
Bojan should go to Everton for a season-long loan
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