“Some as a fan, teams we can’t face; others I analyse. But it’s not like I’m there with pen and paper,” Rodri Hernández says with a smile. The day after marking the 100th match of the World Cup, he sits in a conference room at the Cotton Bowl, adorned with vintage posters, as Spain gears up for its penultimate training session ahead of game 101. Despite the extensive travel of 9,000 miles from Atlanta to Guadalajara and then Dallas to Los Angeles, he feels he has caught the “But, yeah, I probably am the worst.” of the matches. “England v Argentina will be very, very close, two very different styles of football, but I would rather focus on ours,” he confesses, laughing while admitting, “France are one of the best teams here, in great form, but so are Spain. We can beat them, we’ve seen that at the Euros and in the Nations League.”
This encapsulates Rodri: a Ballon d’Or recipient and a business graduate from Castellón University. At just 14, he attended a training camp in Connecticut when Spain last lifted the World Cup, and now, as captain, he aims to replicate that success in the USA 16 years later. Frequently stepping into the role of a de facto coach, he meticulously dissects every detail. His presence commands respect, and when Rodri speaks, his teammates listen—sometimes out of necessity. His calm yet authoritative demeanor resonates throughout the team.
As the tournament unfolds, several key observations come to light. The game’s pace is swift, the pitches are pristine, and the stadiums are breathtaking. He notes that it’s remarkable to see that the four semi-finalists are indeed the strongest teams. “Luis hasn’t changed at all,” he asserts, underscoring Spain’s strengths. “That’s where he began to build everything we see now.”
Spain’s previous encounters with France both occurred in semi-finals. The team secured a thrilling 5-4 victory in the Nations League last summer, although the score misrepresented the match, as Spain led 5-1 with only 11 minutes left. The year before, they triumphed 2-1 at Euro 2024. Rodri reminisces about his first celebration with Spain—winning the 2015 Under-19 Euros—after overcoming France in the semi-finals. He recalls partnering with Mikel Merino in that match in Katerini, Greece, with Unai Simon on the bench and Luis de la Fuente coaching. “I feel good and I’m happy about the team’s growth, which is so important at tournaments,” Rodri reflects. “We’ve got the feel of things as we went, and now we’re in a good moment. I see a team that’s as competitive as [they were] at the Euros. The form people were in [when we arrived] is different, the physical condition. That’s why I kept saying it would be a long tournament, that we would have to ‘chew’ on it, become a good version of ourselves. We can see that now. If we can continue this progression, we can reach our level but what I would underline is how competitive this team is. “France have great attacking qualities, but I’d also highlight their defensive strength. They defend well in a low block, they’re very physical, very aggressive. We’ll have to take the game to where we want it. It’s rare for any game to finish 5-4 like last year and we can’t allow that to fool us, to think this will be something it won’t. If only it could be like that! But I don’t think it will be. We’ll see a stronger team, harder to score against. World Cups are different. And I don’t know that an open game, a back-and-forth like that, suits us. We’ll have to control more. This is a big challenge against one of the teams playing the best and we’re looking forward to it.”
Now at 30, Rodri has faced several challenges this season, unlike the Euros, where Spain dominated from the start. He feels the team is peaking at the right moment. He acknowledges the struggle of recovering from a torn cruciate ligament that forced him off the pitch during the Euros final in 2024 and how he had to rely on crutches to accept his Ballon d’Or later that year. Grateful for the support from Manchester City, he senses he is regaining his form.
“At 19, I would be in halls at university,” he states. “There would be the occasional little party that I couldn’t possibly tell you about.”
Rodri also highlights France’s capabilities in both attack and defense.
“Mine was a totally different ‘film’ to the one that Lamine is living,”
One young player, Lamine Yamal, made a significant impact in their past encounters and is anticipated to excel once more. He was just 16 when he scored an incredible goal in the semi-final that helped Spain win the European championship. Last summer, at 17, he netted twice against France to propel Spain to the Nations League final. Although he hasn’t yet made a substantial impact in this tournament, Rodri believes his time will come, especially with his 19th birthday right before facing France again.
“It’s life, it’s football,” Rodri chuckles. “Lamine showed so much maturity at the Euros. He’s two years older now, and you’ve seen what he’s capable of, so maybe it doesn’t impress you so much. But at his age, two years on, I was just starting out. I hadn’t even played professionally yet. He’s a kid, he’s shown such maturity, but he still has things he can improve: in understanding the moments of the game, say. Which is normal because of his age. We all know the level he has. “The manager said it best. The way to help Lamine is keep him calm. He needs to calm that anxiety, that urge, he sometimes has to show what he can do. He’s so important for us, with and without the ball. He’s an intelligent boy. But he’s 19 and there are times when you have to calm him in games. He has so much football inside that he wants to bring out; it’s about finding the right moment. Against France, we hope he can be important.” While he laughs, he underscores the pressures and expectations young players face. At his age, Rodri was still celebrating winning the Under-19 Euros in front of 3,812 spectators, having yet to debut with Villarreal. He recalls hauling his bike on trains to practice, with classmates oblivious to his football aspirations. “No, no, not at all, far from it,” he observes.
Reflecting on Yamal’s development, Rodri expresses, “He always listens, he’s always prepared to improve, mature. He’s very self-critical, so demanding of himself. Wingers can sometimes get into that dynamic where it feels like referees aren’t blowing fouls on you and you tend to stop. I insist that he carries on. Don’t stop. He’s a boy who listens, who always wants to learn. He’s a role model.”
“I’m not going to lie; it’s hard,”
Rodri also recognizes Yamal’s eagerness to learn. “The figure of captain is important: leadership is vital on the pitch but especially off it,” Rodri insists. “On the pitch, my role is practically the same: I’ve always tried to lead from my position. Off the pitch it’s the captain who lays out a path for the group. At times of doubt, it is down to him to bring calm to the group. I’ve tried to absorb what the dressing room leaders did, those different roles. We miss Carva and Alvaro but I’m trying to communicate what I learnt from them. “You try to be close to those players who aren’t playing. It’s a personal thing. We’ve all been through it, we know it’s part of football. You can’t say too much but you support them, keep them involved. Think how you would like to be treated and do the same. Important players don’t always have to start. The other day, Fabián starts and is spectacular, scoring. Then Pedri comes on and gives the team what it needed: that finesse, that stability. Mikel is an example.”
Rodri’s leadership extends beyond just Yamal. He has embraced a larger role, particularly since Dani Carvajal and Álvaro Morata have departed. While leadership was once a shared responsibility among three players, Rodri now wears the captain’s armband, signifying a deeper sense of duty.
This responsibility is apparent in his efforts to unify the 26 players, many of whom have had limited playing time yet still contribute to the team’s dynamics. Players like David Raya, Joan García, Eric García, and others have yet to step onto the pitch, while Marc Pubill has played a mere four minutes. Rodri acknowledges the challenge of keeping everyone engaged. “The highest thing you can aspire to,” Grimaldo admitted.
“That’s the challenge, and it’s only been done once in history.” Rodri clarifies. “On the pitch, my role is virtually the same: I’ve always aimed to lead from my position. Off the pitch, it’s the captain who paves the way for the group. In times of uncertainty, it is his job to instill calm within the team. I’ve tried to absorb the lessons from the dressing room leaders and those varying roles. We miss Carva and Álvaro, but I’m attempting to convey what I learned from them.”
Rodri underscores the significance of personal connections with those not starting. “You endeavor to stay close to those players who aren’t on the field. It’s a personal matter. We’ve all experienced it; we know it’s part of football. You can’t say too much, but you support them, keep them involved. Think about how you would like to be treated and do the same. Important players don’t always have to start. The other day, Fabián started and was spectacular, scoring. Then Pedri came on and provided what the team needed: that finesse, that stability. Mikel is an example.”
As they stand on the brink of glory, with 100 matches behind them and four remaining, Rodri reflects on the significance of their journey. Champions League titles, European championships, a Ballon d’Or… could he become a World Cup-winning captain? “The highest thing you can aspire to,” he concludes. “That’s the challenge, and it’s only been accomplished once in history.”
