Rodri Says Spain's Hoodoo Over France Is Real, But Warns Tuesday Won't Be Another Shootout

Rodri has a message for anyone dismissing Spain's confidence heading into Tuesday's World Cup semi-final as empty pre-match talk: the numbers back it up. Spain have beaten France in the last three semi-finals that have mattered between the two nations, and Rodri, Spain's captain and the reigning Ballon d'Or winner, is the common thread running through two of them.

"France are one of the best teams here, in great form, but so are Spain," Rodri said at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas. "We can beat them, we've seen that at the Euros and in the Nations League." It is not trash talk. It is a captain citing recent history as leverage, then immediately undercutting the temptation to believe it will be easy.

Spain's Secret Weapon: A History of Beating France When It Matters

The receipts are specific and recent. At Euro 2024, Spain beat France 2-1 in the semi-final on their way to lifting the trophy in Berlin. A year later, in the Nations League semi-final, Spain thrashed France 5-4, a scoreline that flatters the French: la roja were 5-1 up with 11 minutes remaining before a late rally made it respectable.

The 2015 Connection Nobody Talks About

Go back further and the pattern holds. In the 2015 Under-19 European Championship semi-final in Katerini, Greece, a 19-year-old Rodri lined up alongside Mikel Merino in midfield as Spain beat France again. Unai Simon was on the bench that day. The coach was Luis de la Fuente, the same man now in charge of the senior side.

"Luis hasn't changed at all. That's where he began to build everything we see now."

That is the case Rodri is building without ever raising his voice: this is not superstition, it is a squad and a coaching setup with genuine lineage against this opponent. Three big-tournament semi-finals, three wins, spanning a decade and involving several of the same names.

• 2015 U19 Euro semi-final: Spain beat France (Rodri, Merino started; De la Fuente coached)
• Euro 2024 semi-final: Spain 2-1 France
• 2024 Nations League semi-final: Spain 5-4 France (led 5-1 before a late France surge)

Rodri's Redemption: From ACL Tear to Ballon d'Or to World Cup Captain

Rodri's own story adds weight to the narrative. He tore his anterior cruciate ligament in the Euro 2024 final, forced off at half-time as Spain went on to win the trophy without him. Months later he collected the Ballon d'Or on crutches, the game's top individual prize arriving alongside a serious injury that would keep him out for the best part of a year.

"Becoming Himself Again"

Rodri has been candid that his return season with Manchester City was less about trophies and more about rebuilding fitness and form from scratch. He credits the club's patience for helping him get there.

"I feel good and I'm happy about the team's growth, which is so important at tournaments," Rodri said. "I kept saying it would be a long tournament, that we would have to 'chew' on it, become a good version of ourselves. We can see that now." That framing matters: this is not a captain claiming Spain arrived at their peak. It is one arguing they are climbing towards it at the right moment, just as the knockout rounds intensify.

Rodri is 30 now, a decade on from that Under-19 win over France, and increasingly the tactical brain of a Spain side trying to become back-to-back major tournament winners after Euro 2024. His analysis of the tournament borders on obsessive. By his own admission he has watched the "immense majority" of the World Cup's first 100 games, some as a fan, others broken down like a coach.

Why Rodri Says This Won't Be Another 5-4 Thriller

For all the confident history, Rodri is careful not to oversell it. He knows a repeat of last year's Nations League shootout is neither likely nor, tactically, what Spain should want.

France's Defensive Solidity Is the Real Threat

"France have great attacking qualities, but I'd also highlight their defensive strength," Rodri said. "They defend well in a low block, they're very physical, very aggressive. We'll have to take the game to where we want it."

"It's rare for any game to finish 5-4 like last year and we can't allow that to fool us, to think this will be something it won't. If only it could be like that! But I We'll see a stronger team, harder to score against. World Cups are different."

That last line is the crux of Rodri's messaging: history says Spain have France's number at this stage, but he is explicitly warning his own dressing room, and the watching public, against assuming an open, chaotic game will follow. "I "We'll have to control more."

Much of that control may run through Lamine Yamal, who scored the outrageous semi-final goal against France at Euro 2024 aged 16 and added two more in last year's Nations League win over the same opponents at 17. He turns 19 on the eve of Tuesday's match and, by Rodri's own admission, has yet to hit those same explosive heights in this tournament.

What Happens Next

Spain face France in Dallas on Tuesday for a place in the World Cup final, with the winner of England v Argentina awaiting in the other semi-final. Rodri's message to his squad is clear: trust the recent history against this specific opponent, but do not expect it to repeat itself in the same fashion.

The tactical battle will likely hinge on whether Spain can impose the control Rodri wants, denying France the physical, low-block game that has troubled better sides than this. If Spain manage that, the psychological weight of three straight semi-final wins over Les Bleus, and a coaching lineage stretching back to a youth tournament in Greece a decade ago, could prove decisive again.

Either way, Rodri's own arc adds another layer to Tuesday's stakes. A player who tore his ACL in a major final and collected football's top individual honour on crutches is now 90 minutes from captaining Spain to a second consecutive major trophy, and doing it, fittingly, against the one team his generation has never lost to when it has mattered most.

Frequently Asked Questions

Has Spain beaten France in a major semi-final before?
Yes. Spain beat France 2-1 in the Euro 2024 semi-final and 5-4 in the 2024 Nations League semi-final, and a Spain squad including Rodri and Mikel Merino also beat France in the 2015 Under-19 European Championship semi-final.

What did Rodri say about Spain's chances against France?
Rodri said France are one of the best teams left in the tournament but insisted Spain "can beat them," pointing directly to their recent semi-final wins at Euro 2024 and in the Nations League as evidence.

Will the France vs Spain semi-final be another high-scoring game like last year's 5-4?
Rodri says no. He explicitly warned that the 5-4 Nations League scoreline was an outlier, and expects a tighter, more controlled match given France's defensive solidity and physicality, plus the different demands of a World Cup.

How is Rodri playing after his ACL injury?
Rodri tore his anterior cruciate ligament in the Euro 2024 final and missed most of the following season for Manchester City. He has described his recovery year as being about "becoming himself again" and says he now feels back to his best heading into the World Cup semi-final.

Who else is in the World Cup semi-finals alongside Spain and France?
The other 2026 World Cup semi-final pits England against Argentina. Rodri described that tie as likely to be "very, very close" given the contrasting styles of the two teams.

What is Lamine Yamal's record against France?
Lamine Yamal scored a spectacular goal against France in the Euro 2024 semi-final at age 16 and added two more goals against them in the 2024 Nations League semi-final at 17. He turns 19 the day before Spain's 2026 World Cup semi-final against France.

Who is Spain's head coach at the 2026 World Cup?
Luis de la Fuente is Spain's head coach. He also coached the Spain Under-19 side that beat France in the 2015 European Championship semi-final, a squad that included current senior internationals Rodri, Mikel Merino and Unai Simon.