FCBARCELONA.CAT

15.05.2008 17:34

A gruelling year

Sergi Nogueras

Bojan has had an intense year. The young striker has been a regular in Rijkaard’s line-ups and has also played for the under-17 and under-21 Spanish international sides.

In May last year, Bojan Krkic took part in the European under-17 champions with Spain thereby missing some of the vital final Barça B matches. He was also carrying a left knee injury. Bojan played five matches in the championships and was in the starting line-up in four of them. He scored two decisive goals in the semi-finals against Belgium and England and one more that gave the trophy to the side coached by Juan Santisteban.

End of season with Barça B

It has to be remembered that Bojan started last season with “Juvenil A” and then made the step up to Barça B. After the European under-17 championships he arrived back in time to play the last two games for Barça B but was unable to prevent the team from being relegated. Before the season ended, he made his debut with the Spain under-21 team in a match against Georgia on 6th June. He was just 16!

An intense pre-season

Bojan started training with the first team in the middle of July, despite having just overcome the problem in his left knee. He then joined the training camp in Saint Andrews (Scotland) where he played in the two friendlies against Dundee United and Hearts. He was prevented from joining the tour of Asia by his commitments with the Spain team in the Korea under-17 World Cup.

Korea under-17 World Cup

Bojan burst onto the world stage scoring five goals in five matches. He missed just two games: against Argentina in the opening phase and with qualification already in the bag, and the final due to suspension after being sent off in injury time in the semi-finals. He was voted third best player of the tournament behind Tony Kroos (Germany) and Macauley Chrisantus (Nigeria).

League, Champions League and Cup

After the World Cup final on 9th January, Bojan flew back to Barcelona and made his first team competitive debut away to Osasuna in the league. Three days later, he played for the first time in the Champions League against Olympique Lyon. This season he’s played in a total of 45 matches in all competitions and scored 12 goals for Barça. He’s also scored another three goals for Spain under-21 against Poland (2) and Kazakhstan (1) and in the friendly between Catalonia and Euskadi.