Spain’s Rodri warns Portugal best yet to come at World Cup

Spain's captain Rodri has issued a warning to Portugal, stating that the European champions are far from reaching their peak performance in the ongoing World Cup. Ahead of their last-16 clash, Rodri emphasized that Spain's journey in the tournament has been one of gradual improvement, and they still have significant potential to unlock.

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Spain’s evolution (at the tournament) has been gradual.

The Spanish team, considered one of the tournament favorites, began their campaign with an unexpected 0-0 draw against debutants Cape Verde. However, they quickly found their stride, securing a 4-0 victory over Saudi Arabia and a 1-0 win against Uruguay to top their group. Their most recent performance, a dominant 3-0 victory over a resilient Austria in the last 32, served as a clear statement to their rivals.

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Obviously in a sense that is normal, in the first games you try to adapt to a different environment, different pitch, different type of teams you face, it is never easy.

"Spain’s evolution (at the tournament) has been gradual," Rodri told reporters on Sunday. The 30-year-old Manchester City midfielder acknowledged that adapting to different environments, pitches, and opponents in the initial games is never easy. "So I think in a gradual way, always growing and always knowing that the big things are coming now," he added.

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So I think in a gradual way, always growing and always knowing that the big things are coming now.

Reflecting on the surprising goalless draw with Cape Verde, Rodri stated that the team maintained their composure. "We didn’t lose our heads, we stayed calm, and I think right now we still have a big gap of improvement," he said. This sentiment suggests that despite their strong performances, Spain believes they can elevate their game further as they face tougher opposition, starting with Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal.

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We didn’t lose our heads, we stayed calm, and I think right now we still have a big gap of improvement.