Olmo and Simón's chess ritual: Spain's secret tactical weapon ahead of Belgium World Cup quarter-final

A chessboard route to tactics

Before every World Cup match, Dani Olmo and goalkeeper Unai Simón play a game of chess. The ritual is more than a distraction: it doubles as a tactical session.

We always play before every match. Sometimes one wins and the other loses and we get a bit competitive, but we also talk about tactical details of the match, how to beat the press if the opponent plays with a higher block, things that can happen on the pitch.

Midfielder Martín Zubimendi also shares the habit, and defender Dani Carvajal did until recently.

A habitual starter’s mindset

Olmo entered the World Cup as a substitute but has now made three starts, contributing an assist against Saudi Arabia. He acknowledged that his career trajectory has demanded constant proof.

My career has always been about showing what I am. There’s no problem. I have that demand of myself and, if anyone has any doubts, I’ll have to prove it once more.

The 28‑year‑old from Tarrasa said Friday’s match against Belgium stands among the three most important of his career, alongside the Euro 2024 final and a Champions League semi‑final with Barcelona.

Pedri and Lamine Yamal under the lens

Olmo came to the defence of two teammates who have faced scrutiny. He described Pedri’s daily training as “a spectacle” and rejected the idea the midfielder needs a step forward.

He is a player who gives us a lot with and without the ball. Knowing he is playing gives you something extra, he is a footballer you need on the pitch and you have to have him.

On Lamine Yamal, who has one goal and no assists so far, Olmo insisted the winger’s impact goes beyond statistics.

Even if he does not score or assist, with his dribbles and his presence he attracts several opponents and creates space for others. We are sure he will end up scoring.

Clean‑sheet record as a team effort

Unai Simón has gone 609 minutes without conceding in the tournament, a record Olmo called “a historic milestone.” But he stressed that the credit belongs to the entire side.

The coach always says that the first defender is the centre forward. We attack and defend together. Keeping a clean sheet always puts you one step closer to winning, and that is the objective.

He added that the collective ethic extends to the squad’s less‑used players, whose readiness from the bench he called “the key to success.”

Chasing a first semi‑final since 2010

Spain last reached a World Cup semi‑final in 2010, when it won the tournament. Olmo said he had not been aware of the gap, but called it “extra motivation. The objective is not just to get past the quarter‑finals, it is to win the World Cup.”