Rodri has voiced his concerns regarding the officiating standards during Spain's World Cup semi-final victory over France, particularly highlighting the lack of protection for young talent Lamine Yamal. Spain secured a spot in the World Cup final with a convincing 2-0 win against the tournament favorites in Dallas.

Spain's Impressive Performance

Despite many experts predicting that France, the 2018 World Cup champions and 2022 runners-up, would advance, Spain's performance should not have been underestimated. As reigning European champions, they displayed a strong game plan that ultimately led to their success. Yamal earned Spain a penalty in the first half after being fouled by Lucas Digne, which striker Mikel Oyarzabal converted without hesitation. Spain further solidified their lead when Pedro Porro scored their second goal with half an hour left on the clock.

Rodri's Critique of Officiating

Following the match, Manchester City midfielder Rodri expressed pride in his team's performance but also criticized the officiating, particularly the handling of fouls against Yamal. He stated, “It’s obvious. We’ve been dealing with this situation for three games now, there have been too many fouls.” Rodri emphasized that the referees' failure to call fouls against Yamal could lead to continued aggressive play from defenders. He noted, “The permissiveness is clear and was especially obvious today,” while still praising Yamal for his strong performance on the field.

As Spain prepares for what Rodri described as "the most important match of our lives" on Sunday, the team will aim to build on their impressive display against France and secure the World Cup title.