Adrián urges Spain to stay switched on

He may be the tournament's top scorer but the adidas Golden Boot Award is not the first prize in Adrián López's sights at the UEFA European Under-21 Championship.

Three-goal Adrián wants to help Spain past Belarus on Wednesday in order to secure their place in Saturday's final and the London Olympics next summer. "We are quietly confident because we have the quality to get through," said the 23-year-old forward, whose sliding finish put Luis Milla's men two up against Ukraine in their third and last Group B game. "Our aim on Sunday was to defeat the Ukrainians and win the group. We deservedly achieved this and we are delighted."

Not that he expects unbeaten Spain's momentum to continue entirely unchecked when Group A runners-up Belarus provide the opposition in the Viborg semi-final. Adrián played an hour of the 1-1 friendly draw between the two sides in Alcala de Henares on 28 March and understands the strength of the opposition.

"Belarus are not an inferior team," the No7 said. "On paper, because they aren't a big name, they may seem inferior, but it won't be at all easy against them. If they are in the semi-finals it is for a reason. We will have to be fully switched on to get through," stressed the Asturias-born player, whose career statistics show 13 goals in 94 Liga outings for RC Deportivo La Coruña.

Adrián has been alert enough so far in Jutland. His sharp movement and shooting produced two goals against the Czech Republic on matchday two – and gave Spain the perfect riposte to the questions that had followed their 1-1 draw with England.

Spain's cutting edge was unsheathed. Adrián now leads the Golden Boot standings with one more score than team-mate Juan Mata, Admir Mehmedi of Switzerland, the Czechs' Bořek Dočkal and Danny Welbeck of England. If this rich yield from Adrián's lonely furrow as front man continues, it could be the ideal prelude to his summer transfer from relegated Deportivo to Club Atlético de Madrid.