Spain captain Rodri says his side are confident they can beat France in their World Cup semi-final, arguing that while France are among the tournament’s strongest teams, Spain are in equally good form. The interview matters because Rodri is both the team’s captain and a key on-field leader, and his comments offer insight into Spain’s confidence, preparation and sense that they are peaking at the right point in the competition.

Rodri says he has closely followed most of the tournament’s 100 matches and believes the four semi-finalists are the best teams at the World Cup. He points to Spain’s recent record against France, including a 5-4 Nations League semi-final win last summer after leading 5-1 late on, and a 2-1 victory in the Euro 2024 semi-final the year before. The piece also places his remarks in the context of a difficult period personally, with Rodri recovering from a hamstring injury and then a serious knee ligament injury after Euro 2024, making this season a gradual return to full fitness.