Today at the World Cup: How will Rodri’s ‘mystery injury’ affect Spain?
NO PAIN NO SPAIN: It’s been reported this week that Rodri will undergo surgery for a ‘mystery injury’ once the World Cup draws to a close. Pic: Bradley Collyer/PA Wire.
Spain recovered from their opening 0-0 draw with Cape Verde to ease past Saudi Arabia and Uruguay to secure their round-of-32 spot, setting up a meeting with Austria in the process.
Despite drawing a blank against the tournament debutants on matchday one, the Euro 2024 winners remain one of the favourites to lift the World Cup for a second time.
However, it’s been reported this week that Rodri will undergo surgery for a ‘mystery injury’ once the World Cup draws to a close. It means that the Manchester City lynchpin misses the start of the upcoming Premier League campaign.
How said injury affects Spain, though, remains a mystery in itself. Rodri is the brain of this European powerhouse side and while Luis de la Fuente has options in reserve, the City star is arguably the best in his position in world football. La Roja are hoping he’ll remain fit enough to potentially lead his nation to a second World Cup.
Portugal’s round-of-32 meeting with Croatia will pit two of the oldest outfield players at the World Cup against one another.
At 41 years of age, Cristiano Ronaldo is unlikely to continue on the international stage once the tournament in North America draws to a close. Ronaldo, who is pushing to score 1000 career goals before hanging up his boots, has struck twice at the World Cup.
The iconic striker isn’t the only player the wrong side of 40 who’ll take to the field in the early hours of Friday morning. Luka Modric continues to prove that age is but a number, and the AC Milan star is set to lead his nation out in Toronto.
In truth, it’ll be the last dance for one of football’s legendary players. Ronaldo and Modric are unlikely to feature for their respective nations at Euro 2028, where they will be 43 and 42, respectively. Either way, it’ll be an emotional clash for one of the two titans of the game.
For Algeria star Riyad Mahrez, his brace against Austria was a personal accomplishment a long time in the making. The former Leicester and Manchester City man missed the 2018 and 2022 editions due to injury. And in what may well likely be his final World Cup, Mahrez finally made his mark by scoring twice in the 3-3 draw with Ralf Rangnick’s men.
“I’m delighted to have scored my first World Cup goals, but the most important thing is that we’ve reached the next round and can compete at the highest level,” Mahrez told the official FIFA website following the game.
Admittedly, he came close to setting up a round-of-32 clash with Spain, only for Sasa Kalajdzic to nod a late equaliser to send Austria through as group winners.
“It was crazy. We were playing our game, they were sitting off, my team-mate turned, I made the run into space, he picked me out and I had to score,” Mahrez continued.
There was no chance the 35-year-old was going to fluff his lines late on, even if it meant a potential showdown with La Roja.
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