Spain’s instrumental leader and defensive midfielder Rodri was taken out of his side’s Euro Final clash with England on Sunday after suffering an apparent injury in the first half.

Martin Zubimendi was substituted in Rodri’s place by manager Luis de la Fuente as his side came out for their second half with England.

Rodri appeared to have sustained an injury after stepping up to block an England shot just minutes before the halftime whistle rang in Berlin. He left the field favouring his left leg before being replaced.

Rodri, 28, has appeared in all but one match for Spain during their 2024 European Championship run, finding the back of the net once against Georgia in the quarterfinal.

In a devastating blow to Spain’s Euro 2020 hopes, midfielder Rodri has been forced to leave the final due to injury. The Manchester City star had been a key player for La Roja throughout the tournament, providing stability and control in the midfield.

The injury occurred during the semi-final match against Italy, when Rodri was involved in a collision with an opponent. Despite initially trying to play through the pain, it became clear that he would not be able to continue and he was substituted off the field.

The loss of Rodri will be a significant blow to Spain’s chances in the final, as he has been instrumental in their success so far. His ability to dictate play and break up opposition attacks will be sorely missed, and it will be up to his teammates to step up in his absence.

It is yet to be confirmed how serious Rodri’s injury is and how long he will be sidelined for. The midfielder will no doubt be devastated to miss out on the chance to play in a major final for his country, but his health and recovery must take precedence.

Spain will now have to regroup and come up with a plan to cope without Rodri in the final. It will be a tough challenge, but with the talent and depth in their squad, they will be hoping to overcome this setback and still put on a strong performance.

Fans of both Spain and Rodri will be hoping for a speedy recovery for the midfielder, and that he will be back on the pitch soon to continue his impressive form for club and country.