Episode 8: Leadership

Leadership is the theme that defines the eighth instalment of the World Cup Vlogs, and few embody it better than Rodrigo Hernández. The Spain captain has established himself as one of the national team’s true leaders. His tactical intelligence, composure in possession and ability to dictate the tempo of the game make him the heartbeat of the side—qualities that head coach Luis de la Fuente consistently highlights.

Beyond his footballing ability, Rodri leads by example on and off the pitch, inspiring confidence, balance and commitment throughout the squad. In this episode, the Madrid-born midfielder reflects on life in Spain’s World Cup camp and reveals how he enjoys spending time with his teammates. One of his favourite pastimes, he explains, is sparking debates and asking thought-provoking questions to discover how each member of the squad thinks.

With Spain just two days away from their eagerly awaited World Cup semi-final against France, we sat down with the national team captain for a conversation.