Rodri tells Spain to chase World Cup dream without fear against Messi's Argentina

Spain captain Rodri has called on his teammates to embrace hunger over fear as they prepare to face Argentina in the World Cup final. With football's biggest prize on the line, Rodri acknowledged the formidable challenge posed by Lionel Messi and an Argentine side he described as "the team to beat."

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We have to go for the win; we have to be determined to win the World Cup, and we have to be ambitious. And I think that means being ourselves throughout the match.

Spain enters the final having secured recent titles like the Nations League and European Championship. Rodri attributed this success to a gradual process of team maturation over the past few years. "This team and this generation were going to make a name for themselves... and now reaching the final of a World Cup," he stated, emphasizing that their ambition extends beyond this achievement. For Rodri, who has already achieved significant success with Manchester City, winning the World Cup remains the ultimate career goal.

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For me, he's the greatest player of all time. He's a player who's been able to lead his national team to win the World Cup and, in this case, to the final.

Spain's defensive strength, having conceded only once in the tournament, was highlighted by Rodri, who described them as a "very well-rounded team." While he kept Spain's specific weaknesses confidential, he recognized Argentina's "competitive spirit," their ability to stage comebacks, and their strong character. Rodri anticipates a more physical match than their semi-final victory over France.

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But Argentina is much more than just Messi... obviously, we'll have to keep an eye on him, but also on many others.

Addressing the presence of Lionel Messi, Rodri called him "the greatest player of all time" and noted his leadership in guiding Argentina to the final. However, he cautioned that Argentina's threat extends beyond their star player. Rodri drew a parallel to Spain's 2010 World Cup win, emphasizing the lesson of a determined group pursuing an seemingly impossible dream, a mindset he believes is still relevant for the current Spanish squad.

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Sunday's match is going to be a different one; I think it'll be more of a battle, more physical, and we'll have to be prepared.