Spanish coach Luis de la Fuente called criticism of captain Rodri insulting after a surprising draw against Cape Verde. He confirmed that the team will improve in the second match of the 2026 World Cup against Saudi Arabia.
Spain were held to a 0-0 draw by World Cup debutants Cape Verde. Now they will enter the match on Sunday, June 21, 2026, with all four teams in Group H collecting one point each.
Spanish media questioned the team selection and Luis de la Fuente's substitutions - choosing Gavi and Ferran Torres as wingers, and only making the first substitution in the 71st minute while chasing the goal.
The report also criticized the performances of key players including Ballon d'Or winner and Manchester City midfielder Rodri, who was deemed to have slowed down the team's play.
"I think it's very insulting that people say that about the best player in the world. Would people say that about any other player who is considered the best in the world? I don't think they would dare."
"Because they are Spanish, we say things about our own players and we will not say about other players. Rodri is the best player in the world."
"In fact, at 50 percent, he is better than most other midfielders in the world. He brings clarity, vision, balance. Rodri is an inspiration to us," De la Fuente told radio Cadena COPE.
De la Fuente had previously insisted that Lamine Yamal was in perfect condition before the match, but then waited until the 71st minute to bring him on. The Barcelona star immediately made an impact.
There are also doubts about the fitness of Nico Williams, Victor Munoz - who signed for Liverpool on Thursday 18 June 2026 - and Mikel Merino, but De la Fuente said the players will perform well when the time comes.
"We don't need to worry. They will be there when we need them. On Sunday, they will get more minutes. In the third match against Uruguay, they will be even better."
"At the last Euro (won by Spain in 2024) Dani Olmo came with an injury. He could have stayed at home. We decided to take the risk."
"Olmo came, he recovered, and he became the top scorer. Nobody remembers him now, but I do," said the coach.
Meanwhile, Yamal came to the tournament in top condition to recover from the muscle injury he suffered with Barcelona in April 2026.
De la Fuente did not want to confirm whether he would be a starter against Saudi Arabia or return to play as a substitute.
"We will evaluate it. The game is decided in the second half. You don't win many games in the first 45 minutes."
"We will assess it, whether it is better for him to be a starter, or whether he will take advantage of the opponent's fatigue in the last minutes, when Lamine becomes decisive. It will depend on the course of the match," he said.
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