Euro 2024: Rodri calls for more protection for players after Pedri's injury

Rodri has called for more protection for players after one of his Spain teammates was ruled out of the rest of the European Championship.

Pedri's tournament was ended after the midfielder sustained a knee injury last Friday in a hefty challenge by Toni Kroos at the start of the quarterfinal against Germany, which La Roja went on to win 2-1.

Spain coach Luis de la Fuente said Kroos should have been sent off in the final match of his illustrious career. He did not even receive a yellow card.

As football players, we always want to be protected, Rodri said on Monday. This is the job of the referee.

I mean, he puts the standard, so what is a yellow card or red card is his job, It's not our job. And we play with the rules or with the level he put. This is the reality.

Rodri, considered the best defensive midfielder in the world, is expecting another hard-fought encounter in Tuesday's semifinal against France.

Tomorrow is going to be a very, very physical battle because they are a very