Spain Midfielder Rodri Says Winning Euro 2024 is 'the Best Day of My Career'

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Spain Midfielder Rodri Says Winning Euro 2024 is 'the Best Day of My Career'

He only played half the game, but Spain midfielder Rodri called it the best day of his career.
Spain looked to have suffered a major blow when Rodri went off with an unspecified injury at halftime in the European Championship final against England on Sunday with the score at 0-0.
Rodri said he felt something odd in his leg after running into teammate Robin Le Normand and that he knew he couldn’t keep going after trying a sprint.
But fears of a second-half drop in intensity were put to rest when Nico Williams scored soon after the break, then substitute Mikel Oyarzabal scored late for Spain to win 2-1 and claim its fourth European title, The Associated Press said.
“My God, what a day, this is surely the best day of my career,” Rodri said after he was presented with the player of the tournament award.
Rodri helped Manchester City win the Champions League title in June, including scoring the only goal of the final against Inter Milan.
On Sunday, Rodri was replaced at the break by Real Sociedad midfielder Martin Zubimendi, considered one of the best holding midfielders in the Spanish league, but untested internationally. He more than rose to the challenge, winning all his tackles and with a better passing rate than Rodri.
“You only have to see the family we have built ... Now we are the national team that has won the most European Championships,” said Rodri, who paid tribute to Spain’s young players in particular — Williams is just 22 and Lamine Yamal turned 17 on Saturday. They won the player of the match and young player of the tournament awards, respectively.
“Many of us here won Under-19 and Under-21 European Championships, and this is something that is cultivated and nurtured and you work hard for," Rodri said. "Today we are champions of Europe and we’re not going to stop here.”



Former Argentina Coach Sampaoli Takes Over at French Club Rennes

FILE - Coach Jorge Sampaoli of Brazil's Flamengo reacts during a Copa Libertadores round of 16 second leg soccer match against Paraguay's Olimpia at Defensores del Chaco stadium in Asuncion, Paraguay, Aug.10, 2023. (AP Photo/Jorge Saenz, File )
FILE - Coach Jorge Sampaoli of Brazil's Flamengo reacts during a Copa Libertadores round of 16 second leg soccer match against Paraguay's Olimpia at Defensores del Chaco stadium in Asuncion, Paraguay, Aug.10, 2023. (AP Photo/Jorge Saenz, File )
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Former Argentina Coach Sampaoli Takes Over at French Club Rennes

FILE - Coach Jorge Sampaoli of Brazil's Flamengo reacts during a Copa Libertadores round of 16 second leg soccer match against Paraguay's Olimpia at Defensores del Chaco stadium in Asuncion, Paraguay, Aug.10, 2023. (AP Photo/Jorge Saenz, File )
FILE - Coach Jorge Sampaoli of Brazil's Flamengo reacts during a Copa Libertadores round of 16 second leg soccer match against Paraguay's Olimpia at Defensores del Chaco stadium in Asuncion, Paraguay, Aug.10, 2023. (AP Photo/Jorge Saenz, File )

Former Argentina coach Jorge Sampaoli is taking over at French league side Rennes.
The 64-year-old is returning to French soccer following a previous stint with Marseille.
Rennes said late Monday that Sampaoli signed a 1 1/2-year contract, The Associated Press reported.
Sampaoli, who was in charge of Argentina at the 2018 World Cup, replaces Julien Stephan, who was dismissed last week.
Rennes is looking for a jolt after a mediocre spell that saw the team slump to 13th place in the standings, 18 points behind leader Paris Saint-Germain after 11 matches.
“He is a coach who is recognized internationally for his professionalism and humanism,” said Arnaud Pouille, the executive chairman and managing director at Rennes. “He has a strong attachment to his players and staff, and is a loyal and committed man. We need his energy to get the club moving again and to face the competition with determination.”
The much-traveled Sampaoli has also coached clubs in Peru, Ecuador, Chile, Spain and Brazil.
Sampaoli abruptly left Marseille in July 2022 after leading the team back to the Champions League, over a disagreement related to the club's transfers of players.