Spain's captain Rodri is preparing for the anticipated 'physical' confrontation with reigning champions Argentina during Sunday's World Cup final. Rodri made a statement during a press conference in Manhattan, noting that Spain intends to ignore any possible provocations from their South American rivals and focus on executing their own tactics.
Expectations for the Match
Rodri, who won the 2024 Ballon d'Or and plays in the midfield for the Spanish team throughout the World Cup, stated that the final promises to be unlike previous games of European champions. He emphasized that the match will be more intense, and the team needs to be ready for it.
“I think the match on Sunday will be quite different,” the Manchester City star told reporters. “It will be more physical, and we must be ready. But I believe that if there is one thing they know about this national team, it is our ability to play different games depending on the moment.”
Tactical Flexibility and Reaction to Provocations
Rodri added that the team is very complete, which is why they are in the final. When asked if he expects Argentina to resort to 'provocative' tactics, he replied that it is part of football. He noted that they will see how the game unfolds and prefers to think that Argentina is a team that gives its all and does not take such a path.
Nevertheless, he warned that if such a situation arises, they will have to ignore it and continue playing according to their plan so as not to fall for provocations.
Attitude Towards Lionel Messi and the Team
The Spanish captain also expressed respect for his Argentine counterpart Lionel Messi, who is likely to play in the last match of his career, calling him the 'greatest of all time.' However, Rodri cautioned that Argentina is more than one person. He stressed: “What Messi means as a player and for Argentina goes beyond words. Obviously, for me, he is the greatest of all time. But Argentina is much bigger than Messi. They have proven that they are a very complete team with top players.”
He concluded that while Leo must certainly be taken into account, so must many other players.
Analysis of the Path to the Final
Argentina reached the final after a difficult playoff run, which included a loss to Cape Verde in extra time, as well as dramatic victories over Egypt and England. Rodri believes these results demonstrate Argentina's mental resilience. “It speaks to their very competitive nature as a national team,” he said. “They are capable of bouncing back from adversity, and we take that into account.”
He added that they know what kind of team they are and will try to damage them as much as possible. Spain, meanwhile, reached the final by defeating tournament favorites France in the semi-finals, neutralizing the coordinated attack of 'Les Bleus' and outperforming the French in the midfield. Rodri admitted that this performance was 'one of the best' ever shown by the current Spanish team, but noted that to beat Argentina, they will need to raise their level higher.
