Germany’s hopes of winning Euro 2024 on home soil rest on a very rare defeat to Spanish midfield maestro Rodri in Friday’s quarter-finals. Since La Roja’s last defeat to Scotland in March 2023, Rodri has played 77 games for club and country and suffered defeat just once, when Manchester United defeated Manchester City in the FA Cup final in May. In that time, the 28-year-old has won two Premier League titles, the Champions League, an FA Cup, the European Super Cup and the Club World Cup, as well as leading his country to Nations League glory.
“In his position, he is the best – he can do everything. The quality, he reads the game, his mentality, he is always ready,” said City manager Pep Guardiola, who has overseen a collection of some of the best midfielders. -campers of all time. to grace the sport.
“He’s so good at so many things… The presence, the physicality, he’s complete.”
Spain have dazzled so far at Euro 2024 – the only team to have won all four games en route to the quarter-finals.
Young wingers Yamine Lamal and Nico Williams gave Luis de la Fuente’s team a direct threat that even the great Spanish team that won three major tournaments in a row between 2008 and 2012 lacked.
Fabian Ruiz, Pedri and Dani Olmo provide extra guile in midfield and even the much-maligned Alvaro Morata has moved into third place for the most goals in European Championship history.
However, Rodri’s overall importance as an anchor for this Spanish team was evident in the round of 16 against Georgia.
Losing in Robin Le Normand’s own goal, despite not facing a shot on goal, Spain began to get nervous about not taking advantage of their control of the ball and opportunities.
Just after half an hour, Rodri took over, took a break and gave an instruction to calm down to his teammates.
Moments later, he struck a low shot into the far corner for the equalizer that served as the launching pad for a 4-1 victory.
“Sometimes 20 or 30 seconds of telling people ‘calm down’ is more productive than going on the attack,” Rodri said of his safety message to staff.
‘I’m not afraid’
Morata may wear the captain’s armband, but Rodri has become the leader of Spain’s new generation, eager to break free from the shadow of his conquering predecessors.
“We have Rodri, who is a perfect computer,” said De la Fuente.
“He manages everything, every emotion, every moment in a masterful way; This is a great help for everyone.”
Despite being one of the world’s stars in his position for several seasons, this is his first major tournament as Spain’s starting six.
In the 2022 World Cup, he was used as a defender by Luis Enrique to accommodate the aging Sergio Busquets.
The Barcelona legend’s international retirement capped Spain’s last major tournament win in 2012.
Now Rodri’s generation wants to write their own story to become national heroes.
“Germany will be strong at home, but they will also be worried about us,” said the former Atlético de Madrid player about the clash in Stuttgart.
“We came to win and we are not afraid. Our mentality is to go on Friday with everything we have against Germany.”
If Spain get their way, another great midfield player will play his last game.
Toni Kroos will retire after the tournament and the man who spent the last decade of his career at Spanish club Real Madrid showed his respect for his quarter-final opponents.
“I think he is someone who exudes enthusiasm, who is not prone to making mistakes, even under pressure, which always gives a lot to the team,” said Kroos.
“Also, in the last one or two years he has also scored goals, important goals.”
Rodri’s goal earned City their first Champions League final in 2023.
Now he aims to make his breakthrough at major tournaments and break German hearts along the way.
(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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