ARLINGTON, Texas, July 14 — Spain’s Rodri delivered a commanding midfield performance against France, helping his team secure a 2-0 victory and book a place in their first World Cup final since winning the title in 2010.

The 30-year-old midfielder, who won the 2024 Ballon d’Or, made a long-awaited return to his pre-injury form 22 months after rupturing his cruciate ligament in a Premier League clash involving Manchester City and Arsenal. Rodri’s display was pivotal in an imperious performance by Luis de la Fuente’s squad.

"Step by step, one step further," Rodri said after the match. "It's the second time we've reached a final, and we need to stay calm and get some rest."

Throughout the tournament, signs of Rodri’s return to the levels that contributed to Manchester City’s dominance during their treble-winning 2022-23 season had been visible. On Tuesday, he performed in a style reminiscent of his world-record unbeaten streak from February 2023 to May 2024, when he went undefeated in 74 consecutive matches for Pep Guardiola’s City side.

Rodri formed a formidable defensive triangle with Aymeric Laporte and Pau Cubarsi, effectively neutralizing threats from Kylian Mbappe, Ousmane Dembele, and Michael Olise. Spain’s goalkeeper Unai Simon did not make a single save, as Rodri frequently intercepted potential dangers early.

His distribution kept France under pressure, switching play to full backs Marc Cucurella and Pedro Porro, while covering more than 12.5 kilometers during the match.

Reflecting on the match dynamics, Rodri said, "Given the characteristics of both teams, you knew one was more notable and the other more possession-oriented."

Spain now advances to the World Cup final, marking a significant milestone since their last title in 2010.

Sources

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