Bojan eyes another European conquest

Bojan eyes another European conquest

After claiming a historic treble with FC Barcelona, Bojan Krkić aims to maintain that winning feeling with Spain's Under-21 side this summer.
'Important step'

The 18-year-old forward, an unused substitute in Barcelona's UEFA Champions League final win over Manchester United FC, is now turning his thoughts to success at the UEFA European Under-21 Championship in Sweden in a competition he describes as "an important step" in his career.
'Motivation'

"It's an interesting tournament and I have a lot of motivation," Bojan told uefa.com. "It was very important for us to qualify because the last time we didn't even reach the finals. We haven't won the competition for many years so it was vital that we made it through." You have to wind back to 1986, in fact, for Spain's only triumph at this level but Bojan has "a lot of hope" that Juan Ramón López Caro's team can emulate not just Barcelona's continental conquest but, moreover, their senior counterparts' UEFA EURO 2008™ triumph.
Precocious talent

"The team have been doing well recently," he said. "We play very tactically and are strong technically with a good balance. We have a good group, we enjoy playing together and more than anything we want to win the European championship." Bojan scored three goals in qualifying as Spain won nine of their ten matches. And for all his experience with Barcelona – for whom he struck ten goals in all competitions in 2008/09 – this precocious talent appreciates his exposure to the international stage. "Every time I play for the team I can show my abilities and prove that I'm a good player. It is good to compete in such a team, with all the great players we have here in Spain. Everyone involved helps you with your progress."
Focus on Sweden

Capped once by the senior Spain side, the 18-year-old's ultimate target is a regular place in 'la Selección'. "You're working towards making it into the full national team," he said. However, right now the focus is entirely on Sweden. Spain's opponents in Group B are Germany, England and Finland and Bojan said: "In our group we have two strong opponents, but also the third team [Finland] could cause a surprise. We know it will be tough. [Opening opponents] Germany are a difficult team to play." The England game will pit Bojan against the nation against whom he struck Spain's winner in the UEFA European Under-17 Championship final in 2007. Bojan said: "Most of them play in the Premier League, so, they're a fantastic team." Yet Stuart Pearce's squad will surely not be alone in looking at Bojan and thinking the same and more.
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