In a significant development for Spain’s Euro 2024 campaign, Manchester City star Rodri has been suspended for their upcoming match against Albania. This comes after his booking during Spain’s 1-0 victory over Italy, where he violated a new rule introduced for the tournament.
Match Incident
During Spain’s narrow win over Italy on Thursday night, Rodri received a yellow card for complaining to the referee before halftime. The new regulation stipulates that only the team’s captain can speak to the referee, a rule implemented to reduce the instances of players swarming the officials. Unfortunately for Rodri, this was his second tournament booking, following his earlier yellow card in Spain’s 3-0 win against Croatia. As a result, he will miss Spain’s final group match against Albania on Monday.
Impact on Spain
Despite Rodri’s suspension, Spain’s victory over Italy secured their place in the Round of 16 at Euro 2024. The win ensures that Spain will finish top of their group, potentially earning a more favorable draw in the knockout stages. The absence of Rodri, a crucial defensive midfielder, will be felt against Albania, but he will be available again for the essential knockout clash.
Rodri’s Performance
His exceptional performance statistics underscore Rodri’s importance to the team. According to Sofascore, Rodri achieved a 100% passing success rate (58 out of 58) in the opposition half during the game against Italy. This is the highest in a Euros game since 1980, surpassing performances by Belgium’s Dedryck Boyata against Finland in Euro 2020 and Denmark’s Andreas Christensen versus Slovenia earlier in this tournament.
Looking Ahead
Spain, which won the Euros in 2012 and 2008, will aim to complete the group stage with a perfect record by defeating Albania. Along with tournament host Germany, Spain is one of only two teams that have already secured their spot in the knockout stages. The match against Albania allows other squad members to step up in Rodri’s absence and maintain their winning momentum.
Conclusion
Rodri’s suspension is a setback for Spain, but their dominant performances so far have put them in a strong position heading into the knockout stages. The team’s depth and talent will be tested against Albania, but with their top-group finish already assured, Spain can confidently approach the match. Fans and analysts will watch how Spain adapts without one of their key midfielders and whether they can continue their impressive form in Euro 2024.
