Rodri has apologised to former Manchester City teammate Bernardo Silva after appearing to celebrate his missed chance during Spain's 1-0 victory over Portugal in the World Cup round of 16 on Monday. The incident occurred in the 96th minute when Silva, who left City for Real Madrid on a free transfer last month, failed to convert a header from Francisco Conceicao's cross, sending the ball over the crossbar.
Altercation on the Pitch
As Silva slammed the ground in frustration, Rodri turned and celebrated directly in his face, seemingly taunting his ex-teammate. Silva reacted by pushing Rodri as he got up, and the two exchanged words before Aymeric Laporte and Unai Simon intervened to separate them. The clash appeared out of character given their six-year partnership at City, where they won four Premier League titles and one Champions League.
Rodri's Apology
In a post-match interview, Rodri acknowledged his mistake and apologised to Silva. "As for Bernardo, I think I mentioned it earlier: I made a mistake. I excessively celebrated an action when he had failed a play. I immediately apologised to him right after, but it stays on the pitch," Rodri said. "We have a lot of confidence between us. So it's all good."
Match Decided by Late Winner
The match was decided by Mikel Merino's 91st-minute winner, who came on as a substitute in the 85th minute. The Arsenal midfielder latched onto a pass from Ferran Torres and slotted past Portugal goalkeeper Diogo Costa. Spain manager Luis de la Fuente praised Merino's impact, calling him "masterful" and "world-class." "I'm very happy for him. I have a great affection for all the players, but with Mikel Merino there's something special because we've known each other for a long time," De la Fuente said. "If necessary, I'd go to pick him up at his house. He's a safe bet."
Next Challenge
Spain now face Belgium in the quarter-final on Friday, while Portugal exit the tournament after a tight contest where Spain edged the chances.
