Rodri Says Spain Can Beat France as World Cup Semi-Final Nears

What happened:

Watch the highlights:

Rodri Hernández has said Spain can beat France in their World Cup semi-final, while also acknowledging the strength of the opponent in front of them. In an interview with The Guardian, the Spain captain described France as "one of the best teams here" and "in great form", but stressed that Spain are in strong condition too.

The setting matters. Spain are preparing for the 101st game of the tournament, with Rodri speaking at the Cotton Bowl the morning after the World Cup’s 100th match. Spain are close enough to the final that every training session, selection decision and tactical read now carries outsized importance.

Why it matters:

Rodri’s role is bigger than his position in midfield. The Guardian’s profile presents him as a captain who watches and analyses a huge amount of the tournament, not just Spain’s matches. He said he had watched the "immense majority" of games, some as a fan and some with an analytical eye. He joked that he may be "the worst" for that habit, but it fits the way Spain use him: as a stabilising voice and a tactical reference point.

That is relevant against France because semi-finals are often decided by control as much as attacking quality. Rodri’s comments suggest Spain are not treating the match as a mystery. They know France are elite, but the captain is publicly setting the tone that Spain do not need to play from an underdog mindset.

Tournament impact:

Spain are chasing a return to the very top of the World Cup, 16 years after the country last won the trophy in the United States. The Guardian notes that Rodri was 14 and at camp in Connecticut when Spain won in 2010. Now he is the Ballon d’Or-winning captain trying to lead Spain back to the final on American soil.

The article also points to the practical strain of the tournament: Rodri has played six matches and Spain have covered roughly 9,000 miles across stops including Atlanta, Guadalajara, Dallas, Los Angeles and back. That travel load is not just background colour. At this stage, recovery, mental clarity and tactical discipline can be as decisive as form.

What to watch:

The most important question is how Spain balance their confidence with the respect France demand. Rodri’s framing does both. He is not dismissing France, but he is also not allowing the semi-final to become a referendum on French strength alone.

Another thread is Lamine Yamal. The source notes that Rodri discussed how to get the best out of him, though the supplied details do not specify the tactical instructions. That makes Yamal’s usage one of the follow-up points before kick-off: not whether Spain trust him, but how they structure the team around his threat.

Confidence:

Confirmed by the source: Rodri said France are one of the best teams at the tournament, said Spain can beat them, and spoke as Spain prepared for the World Cup semi-final. Still to follow: lineups, tactical plans, fitness details and any final pre-match adjustments from either camp.