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CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO WHAT COACH LUIS DE LA FUENTE HAD TO SAY BEFORE THE SPAIN-CROATIA MATCH.
"We're going for our fourth Euros," said Rodrigo on the eve of Spain's European Championship opener, adding that "we know how complicated it is going to be and that the main objective is to compete and we don't look too much further then that".
🗣️ Rodrigo, jugador internacional: "Joško Gvardiol se ha adaptado al lateral de una manera excepcional y nos va a traer peligro".
— Selección Española Masculina de Fútbol (@SEFutbol) June 14, 2024
➡️ "Los extremos que jueguen estarán avisados de lo que es capaz de hacer".#VamosEspaña | #EURO2024 pic.twitter.com/fW2Hnj5BRb
Croatia, opponents in the last UEFA Nations League final, appear as Spain’s first obstacle on the road to glory. The Spanish captain said: "We know each other very well and we are two teams that play a lot in the centre of the pitch, wanting to have the ball. Despite that, I'd like to highlight, beyond being Croatia, their form and their desire to compete, it's the way they fight for games that stands out. We see them as a team, not as individuals, and we will have to be at our very best".
🗣️ Rodrigo, jugador internacional: "Nos conocemos mucho mutuamente. Tendremos que estar muy atentos y hacer un gran partido".
— Selección Española Masculina de Fútbol (@SEFutbol) June 14, 2024
➡️ "Es un equipo muy completo y muy competitivo. Vayan ganando o perdiendo, nunca le pierden la cara. Compiten muy bien".#VamosEspaña | #EURO2024 pic.twitter.com/07tTSs9rfC
Despite his growing maturity, the player from Madrid admits to feeling "the usual butterflies that always come with a tournament like this. We have to be aware of what we need to do to win because all these matches don't allow you to slip up".
🗣️ Rodrigo: "Cuando empiezas un torneo de esta importancia, el vértigo y ese nerviosismo es el mismo".
— Selección Española Masculina de Fútbol (@SEFutbol) June 14, 2024
➡️ "Nuestro objetivo es ganar y demostrar que la @SEFutbol puede ganar otra Eurocopa. Son torneos de momentos que no permiten despistes".#VamosEspaña | #EURO2024 pic.twitter.com/IufPnsMpI0
When asked at the press conference to reflect on his role as one of the captains of the national team, Rodrigo pointed out that "there is no one individual example to follow in terms of leadership and captaincy. I've had various people to learn from, people like Ramos and Busquets. One of their virtues is to be calm in the eye of the storm, to make sure that we all row in the same direction and that no one gets off the boat".
🗣️ Rodrigo: "Creo que la @SEFutbol ha demostrado ser un equipo que ha competido bien contra grandes selecciones y que somos difíciles de ganar".
— Selección Española Masculina de Fútbol (@SEFutbol) June 14, 2024
➡️ "Dentro de la igualdad que hay, tengo la sensación de que ningún equipo querría enfrentarse a nosotros".#VamosEspaña | #EURO2024 pic.twitter.com/H2H1kVhRx5
"Every tournament has its complexity and it's very difficult to win," continued the midfielder, who wants to enjoy the continental tournament without thinking beyond the next match: "Something big will only happen if we take it step by step," he concluded.