Spain's captain Rodri calls World Cup final 'game of our lives,' stresses courage

Spanish captain Rodrigo Hernandez, known as Rodri, has declared the upcoming World Cup final against Argentina as the "game of our lives," emphasizing the critical need for courage and a winning mentality. "I told the guys that we must want to win more than we fear losing. That is the spirit with which we must take the field," Rodri stated in an interview with newspaper AS.

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I told the guys that we must want to win more than we fear losing. That is the spirit with which we must take the field.

The 30-year-old midfielder acknowledged that Spain enters the final calmly but is acutely aware of the challenge posed by the reigning world champions. "We know we face a very tough opponent who knows how to win World Cups. This is the game of our lives," he stressed.

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We know we face a very tough opponent who knows how to win World Cups. This is the game of our lives.

Rodri, who recently returned to competitive rhythm after a significant injury at Manchester City, believes he is in his best form of the season. He explained that his recovery was carefully planned to ensure peak readiness for the tournament's final stages. The midfielder feels Spain has progressively elevated its performance throughout the championship, deliberately holding back in the initial stages. "We didn't want to show all our cards from the start. The team has shown maturity and displayed its best version in the knockout phase," he commented.

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We didn't want to show all our cards from the start. The team has shown maturity and displayed its best version in the knockout phase.

He also praised the development of 19-year-old forward Lamine Yamal, noting his high level of play and valuable contributions beyond just scoring. "His contribution without the ball and his sacrifice for the team are particularly appreciated. The goals will come, but for me, everything else he gives the team is more important," Rodri said. Regarding the final, Rodri anticipates a different match than the semifinal against France, describing Argentina as a collective team that values possession, plays aggressively, and boasts many quality players. He highlighted the need to contain Lionel Messi, advising to keep him far from the penalty area and to be aggressive when marking him, while acknowledging Argentina is "much more than Messi."

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His contribution without the ball and his sacrifice for the team are particularly appreciated. The goals will come, but for me, everything else he gives the team is more important.