Spain head coach Luis de la Fuente has launched a fierce attack on journalists who criticized Rodri’s performance against Cape Verde, while also revealing Lamine Yamal’s status for the upcoming match against Saudi Arabia in the second round of the World Cup 2026 group stage.
La Roja played out a goalless draw against Cape Verde in their World Cup opener, leaving Rodri facing harsh criticism for allegedly slowing down Spain’s tempo throughout the match.
De la Fuente responded with fury to these claims, stating: “I find it deeply disrespectful that people are saying this about the best player in the world.”
He added: “Would people say this about others who are considered the best in the world? I don’t think they would dare.”
“Rodri is the best player in the world,” De la Fuente continued. “Even if he is only at 50% fitness, he is still better than most other midfielders in the world. He provides us with clarity, vision, and balance. Rodri is an inspiration to us all.”
When questioned about Yamal, who only played 20 minutes against Cape Verde, the coach responded that the 18-year-old is capable of playing 45 minutes against the Saudi national team. However, he has not yet decided whether to start him or use him as a second-half substitute.
“We will assess whether it’s better for him to start, or if we should exploit the opponent’s fatigue in the final minutes when Lamine can be decisive. It will all depend on how the game unfolds,” the Spanish coach explained.
Concluding with an update on other injured players, namely Nico Williams and Mikel Merino, he assured: “There is no need to worry; they will be there the moment we need them. On Sunday, they will get more minutes, and by the third match against Uruguay, they will be in much better shape.”
