Rodri Applauds Spain’s Collective Effort After Reaching First World Cup Final Since 2010

Spain midfielder Rodri praised the collective spirit of La Roja after their impressive 2-0 victory over France secured a place in the FIFA World Cup 2026 final, insisting the achievement was built on teamwork rather than individual brilliance.

The Manchester City midfielder, who once again anchored Spain’s midfield with authority, reflected on the team’s remarkable journey after eliminating one of the tournament favourites in the semi-final.

“I’m very proud of my team; we have to rest and recover properly,” Rodri said.

“The team has been sensational; we needed everybody’s help.”

Rodri’s comments highlighted the unity that has defined Spain’s campaign under head coach Luis de la Fuente, with every member of the squad contributing to La Roja’s return to the World Cup final for the first time since lifting the trophy in South Africa in 2010.

Spain produced another composed and disciplined display against France, controlling possession for long periods and frustrating Les Bleus before goals from Mikel Oyarzabal and Pedro Porro sealed a deserved victory.

The result also extended Spain’s record-breaking attacking campaign, with La Roja now scoring 13 goals—the highest tally in the nation’s history at a single FIFA World Cup.

Rodri, regarded as one of the world’s premier defensive midfielders, has been central to Spain’s success throughout the tournament, providing balance, leadership and tactical intelligence as the 2010 champions have blended experienced stars with an exciting new generation led by Lamine Yamal, Pedri and Nico Williams.

While celebrating the victory, the 2024 Ballon d’Or winner stressed that the squad’s attention has already shifted to recovery, with little time to prepare for the World Cup final.

Spain will now face either Argentina or England in the championship match, seeking to become world champions for the second time in their history.

With confidence growing after eliminating France, Rodri believes Spain’s greatest strength has been the collective commitment shown throughout the tournament.

For the midfielder, reaching the final was not the achievement of a few standout performers, but the reward for a squad in which every player has embraced the responsibility of helping Spain move one step closer to football’s biggest prize.