Spain’s trophy triumph at UEFA EURO 2024 led to a surge in expectations surrounding the team’s chances of repeating the feat at the upcoming . La Roja had faltered in the years following the conquest of their momentous global crown in 2010, but the grey clouds have lifted, and Rodri has been one of the architects behind the Spanish resurgence.
The imperious holding midfielder sat down with FIFA to discuss his country’s chances of winning the ultimate prize in international football and how humility and teamwork have been the cornerstones of their recent success.
Rodri: I’d be hard-pressed to say we could go further, because I honestly believe they were the greatest generation of all time. No other team have managed to lift the [UEFA] European Championship crown twice and a World Cup. We obviously try to avoid comparisons being drawn with that generation. I think the current team are following our own path, and I reckon we’ve been doing a good job of things for quite some time now. We’ve won the [UEFA] Nations League and a European Championship, and we’re about to face the biggest challenge of all, which is to win a World Cup.
Needless to say, we’ve put in a lot of work over the last few years to ensure we head into the tournament in the best possible shape and to foster that winning mentality in order to give us a chance of going all the way, which is our objective. I think this group of players is ready to take that step. If we manage to win this World Cup, then we’d obviously etch our names into a special place in the history books.
I was 14 years old and was attending a camp to learn English in Connecticut, in the United States. It was held in a forest, and there was no telephone reception, no internet, absolutely nothing. I’d find out Spain’s results through messages that the camp monitors received. When we reached the final, I begged them to find a way for me to watch the game. And there I was, in the middle of the forest, watching Spain become world champions. When [Andres] Iniesta scored, I got up and just started running all over the place. Nobody understood why I was so happy and shouting at the top of my voice.
It’s quite simple. As I always say, I think this side run as if we were minnows and play like heavyweights. I believe that’s the identity that Luis [de la Fuente] has instilled in us since he came in: being humble, making sure we cover more ground than our opponents, understanding just how tough things are and always being ready for any eventuality. Regardless of who takes to the pitch, I think we’re a group of lads who, above all, are keen to learn and ready to listen. In terms of the impression we leave on anyone who watches us, apart from playing a very attractive brand of football, I believe we always display a very clear and visible sense of togetherness. I think that’s the route to achieving great things.
I don’t think it’s something that generally has much of an impact on us players. I don’t reckon anyone had us down as favourites before the European Championship, and we went and won it. It’d seem that we’re one of the favourites to win this competition. However, that doesn’t have any bearing on things at all. It really is nothing more than a personal opinion, an assessment. I think the most in-form team are the one that ends up coming out on top in these tournaments.
Let’s not forget they’re competitions that involve seven or eight matches, and you have to be at the top of your game in each and every one of them. You have to deliver in the big moments, because ultimately the games boil down to moments, which are what end up determining the outcome. A heavily fancied team can very easily end up reaching the latter stages and fail to perform, and vice versa. You have to maintain your resolve and consistency throughout the tournament and, above all, you have to realise that all it takes is one bad day at the office to send you home.
It’s hugely important. I believe the secret to the success of this squad has been putting the collective ahead of the individual. That’s the key to this team. No one player is bigger than anyone else. We all pull in the same direction. We obviously have some very important players, but if you look at our playing style, you can see that we’re not about the individuals. We work as a team and always try to play to each other’s strengths, which is ultimately what takes you that step closer to winning.
It’d be the icing on the cake of a wonderful career in which I’ve been fortunate enough to lift so many trophies. Winning the World Cup is the pinnacle; nothing could top it. It’d be unbelievable and a dream come true, and I think it’s the highlight of any player’s career.
I think we’ll be remembered as a brave team with a distinctly competitive DNA who entertained the fans.
Sources: FIFA Official
