“Europe 2024”: Rodri “jackpot” in the Spanish national team
Germany’s hopes of being crowned European champions in the current edition ended with Spain inflicting a rare defeat on midfield maestro Rodri in Friday’s quarter-final.
Since “La Roja” lost his last official game against Scotland in March 2023, Rodri has played 77 matches for his club Manchester City, the English champions and his country’s national team, and he has only tasted defeat once when they were defeated by Manchester United. City in the FA Cup final last May (May).
During this period, the 28-year-old center player won two titles with his English club; One won the Champions League, the other the FA Cup, plus the European Super Cup and the Club World Cup…and then led his country to winning the European Nations League.
Says Pep Guardiola: Rodri’s coach at Manchester City, who oversaw one of the best midfielders ever: “In his position; He is the best and he can do it all. quality; “He studies the game, his mentality … he’s always ready.”
He continued to praise him: “He excelled in many things; “The presence, the physicality … he’s a complete player.”
Spain have been the best in the current continental competition and are the only team to win all four matches en route to the quarter-finals.
Two brilliant wingers, Lamine Yamal and Neko Williams, particularly shined in it, and they were a huge threat to the defense of opposing teams that did not exist even in Spain’s golden generation, which won three major titles in a row between 2008 and 2012 (the European Cup twice, and the World Cup).
Fabian Reus, Petri and Dani Olmo are great additions in midfield, and Alvaro Morata too; He was heavily criticized and became the third-highest goalscorer in the history of European Cup finals. However, Rodri’s importance as an inspiration to this Spanish team was evident in the quarter-final against Georgia (4 – 1).
Spain fell behind to a surprise goal against the grain of the game, with defender Robin Le Normand scoring an own goal as Spain began to falter as they failed to capitalize on their possession and missed chances. After half an hour, Rodri grabbed the ball, stopped and instructed his teammates to keep calm.
Minutes later, he fired a shot into the far corner from the outskirts of the penalty area, scoring the equalizer and putting his team on the right track to a clear 4-1 victory.
“Sometimes telling people for 20 or 30 seconds: ‘Keep calm’ is more effective than attacking,” Rhodri assured the team of his message.
“We are not afraid”: Morata may be wearing the captain’s armour, but Rodri has emerged as the leader of Spain’s new generation; He is eager to write a new history for his country’s national team after achieving the golden generation between 2008 and 2012.
His coach Luis de la Fuente praised him: “We have Rodri, he is a perfect computer.”
He added: “He manages everything; “All the emotions, all the moments, in a wonderful way, it’s a big help for everyone.”
Although he has been one of the most important players in the world for several seasons, he is playing his first major tournament as the No. 6 seed.
At the 2022 Qatar World Cup, former coach Luis Enrique deployed him in the center of the defensive position ahead of Sergio Busquets.
After the latter’s international retirement, the current generation, led by Rhodri, wants to make history and make its members national heroes.
Former Atletico Madrid man Rodri said before facing Germany in Stuttgart: “Germany are strong domestically, but they will worry about us too.”
He added: “We came to win, we’re not scared. “Our mentality is to go forward with everything we have against Germany on Friday.”
If Spain win, Germany midfielder Toni Kroos will have played his last match before retiring for good. The latter showed; The man, who spent the last decade of his football career in Spain with Real Madrid, paid tribute to his opponents in the quarter-finals. He said: “I think he is an enthusiastic person who is not likely to make mistakes even under pressure, which always gives a lot to the team.”
He continued: “Also; In the last two years, he also scored important goals,” referring to Rodri’s only goal in the Champions League final against Italian Inter in 2023.
Now, Rodri is aiming for his first major title and his team will go a long way towards achieving that if they beat hosts Germany.
