Rodri hits out at refereeing after Spain's World Cup win over France

Spain captain Rodri voiced his frustration with the officiating in the 2-0 World Cup semi-final victory over France. Despite securing a spot in the final, the midfielder was highly critical of referee Ivan Barton's performance during the match in Texas.

Rodri argued that the official match data, which recorded only one foul on Lamine Yamal, failed to capture the reality of the game. He suggested that the French defense targeted the 19-year-old with numerous unpunished challenges throughout the contest.

What is clear is that we have been dealing with this situation of the number of fouls for three games now. I understand that some might not be fouls, but we're talking about 10 or 15 fouls where the kid goes to the ground, gets tackled, and they have to call it, because otherwise the defenders are going to keep doing the same thing. The permissiveness has been quite blatant today. Rodri

Despite the officiating controversy, Rodri was quick to heap praise on Yamal, who recently turned 19. He highlighted the teenager's maturity and his work rate off the ball, which proved vital in Spain's tactical plan to neutralize the French attack.

Looking ahead to the final, Rodri emphasized the need for rest as the team prepares for what he considers the most important match of their careers. Whether they face Argentina or England, the Spanish captain is focused on physical and mental recovery for the title showdown.