Rodri: best player at the tournament
The panel agreed Rodri has been the standout performer of the tournament, returning to his best form after recovering from an ACL injury.
Snapshot · The Rest Is Football
England v Argentina & France v Spain - who reaches the final?
Explore episode
Jul 14, 2026
Where this was said
Rodri's Return to Form
At 2:14 · chapter starts 2:01
After some early-tournament rust, Rodri has hit his stride in the knockout rounds, and the Rest Is Football panel is united in their admiration. Alan Shearer notes he had been watching Rodri closely for City and that 'as the tournament's gone on, he's got better and better.' Micah Richards goes further, declaring Rodri simply the best player at the whole tournament. Mikel John Obi's quarterback analogy captures it best: Rodri doesn't just pass the ball, he dictates the tempo of the entire game, and Spain are a different team without him. His ability to control rhythm is central to the France semi-final preview.
Rodri: The Tournament's Best Player
After recovering from an ACL injury, Rodri has grown into the best player of the tournament. Mikel John Obi compares his game-controlling ability to an NFL quarterback — and the panel unanimously agrees.
Should France Change Their System for Spain?
Joe Cole argues Deschamps should consider playing an extra midfielder to disrupt Spain's rhythm. But the rest of the panel warns that sacrificing one of France's front four is almost as bad as losing the game before it starts.
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