Isco talks up medal chances in London

Malaga playmaker Isco believes Spain have more than enough quality to be able to compete for a medal at this summer’s Olympic Games.

Luis Milla’s 18-man squad contains three players from the seniors that won the European Championship last month and a further nine that won the Euros at Under 21 level last year.

However, the 1992 Olympic champions were beaten comfortably 2-0 by Senegal in their first warm-up game in Gran Canaria on Friday.

Isco is hoping that result provided a warning that Spain’s younger players will always have to be at their best if they are to replicate the senior side’s success.

He said: “Looking at the group we have, with big name players, we can see serious options of a medal, but we need to show this on the field where we will face very difficult opponents.

“We are going with the intention to win and to continue getting better. We will try to be at our best and we hope to achieve it.

“What the senior team is doing is something huge and historic.

“This makes the opponent even more motivated to beat us and make it difficult, but I hope we do things well and maintain our philosophy of play to go as far in the tournament as possible.”

Jordi Alba is one of those who played in Poland and Ukraine and he has finally been given the all-clear to travel to the UK after Barcelona’s protest at his participation in two tournaments this summer was dismissed by FIFA.

And, while he can sympathise with Barca’s complaint, Isco says that the chance to play in an Olympic Games is too good for players to turn down.

He said: “Jordi is a very important player for us. He has been a revelation at the Euros and I understand Barcelona’s concerns about tiredness, but we want him here.

“I would have done everything possible to participate in the Games, it is something that only happens once in your life.

“It is something incredible to participate in a competition of this magnitude with your national team, it is a showcase for any player.”

Spain begin their Olympic campaign against Japan on July 26 in Glasgow before moving on to face Honduras and Morocco in the group stage of the competition.