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World Cup: Rodri ranks Spain’s World Cup chances after victory over France
15th July, 2026 08:20 AM
Spain captain Rodri has hailed his team’s 2-0 semifinal victory over France in Dallas, Texas, on Tuesday, July 14, 2026, describing it as a testament to their credentials to lift the 2026 FIFA World Cup crown.
The La Roja skipper described the performance as their most complete of the tournament so far, as they secured a ticket to the 2026 World Cup final at the expense of France.
Formidable France
Spain faced a formidable opponent in the French, who entered the last-four encounter as arguably the strongest of the semifinalists, boasting an undefeated record alongside a whopping 16 goals scored and only three conceded.
However, the attacking threat led by Kylian Mbappé and Ousmane Dembélé was successfully neutralised as Luis de la Fuente’s men unleashed a dominant, controlled performance from start to finish.
“The important thing was to win. I believe today’s match was our most complete of the tournament,” Rodri said after the tie.
The skipper also acknowledged the team’s gradual improvement, noting how they bounced back from a surprise draw in their opening group match to go from strength to strength as the tournament progressed.
“We have talked about the growth of this team throughout the games. We had to have the patience that is often needed to grow in a tournament, and we were well aware of that. Today, we saw a Spain side that truly wants this title,” he added.
Spain extends dominance
The Spaniards put on a stunning display of passing accuracy, utilising a beautiful execution of their famed tiki-taka approach that frustrated France from the moment Spain took a first-half lead right up to the final whistle.
Central to this success was Spain’s midfield, where Rodri anchored the play alongside UEFA Champions League winner Fabián Ruiz, who was preferred over Barcelona ace Pedri.
Once again, the Ballon d’Or-winning skipper proved his world-class mettle.
Overall, the clash continued La Roja’s recent dominance over Les Bleus, with Spain claiming their fifth win in the last seven meetings between the two nations.
France found themselves on the wrong side of the scoreline in their previous encounter as well—a breathtaking 5-4 defeat in the UEFA Nations League. That unforgettable nine-goal thriller was preceded by Spain ending France’s Euro 2024 campaign with a hard-fought 2-1 semifinal win.
France’s only victories during this recent stretch came in the 2021 UEFA Nations League final and an international friendly back in 2014.
