The criticism received by Rodri in the aftermath of Spain's World Cup draw with Cape Verde was "insulting", believes head coach Luis de la Fuente.

The European champions went into the tournament as favourites, but they were shockingly held to a goalless draw by the World Cup debutants in their opening Group H contest.

The Opta supercomputer had assigned Spain an 87.2% chance of victory in that game, and the 65-place difference between the teams in the FIFA World Rankings was the largest in a World Cup game where the higher-ranked side had failed to win since they were first published in 1993.

After the stalemate, Euro 2024 Player of the Tournament Rodri came in for stern criticism in the Spanish media for his perceived failure to up the tempo.

He was replaced by Nico Williams in the 87th minute as Spain desperately chased a winner, having had a game-high 134 touches and played more passes than any other player (126, completing 116). 

And De la Fuente has jumped to the defence of the former Ballon d'Or winner, who he believes is still the best player on the planet. 

"It seems incredibly insulting to me that people would say that about the best player in the world," De la Fuente told Cadena COPE radio. 

"Would people say that about others who are considered the best in the world? I think they wouldn't dare.

"But because they're Spanish, we say things about our own that we wouldn't about others... Rodri is the best player in the world. 

"Even at 50%, he is better than most other midfielders in the world. He brings clarity, vision, balance. Rodri is an inspiration for us."

De la Fuente only introduced star winger Lamine Yamal from the bench in the 71st minute of the Cape Verde game, after his club season was cut short by a hamstring injury.

Spain face Saudi Arabia in their second match on Sunday, with De la Fuente's side needing a victory to remain in control of the group going into the final matchday, but there are no guarantees that the Barcelona man will start. 

"We'll evaluate it. Games are decided in the second half. You don't win many games in the first 45 minutes," De la Fuente added. 

"We'll assess it, whether it's best for us for him to start, or whether to take advantage of the opponent's tiredness in the final minutes, when Lamine is decisive. It will depend on the state of the game.

"They [the injured players] will arrive in the moment we need them. On Sunday, they'll get more minutes, and in the third game against Uruguay, they'll be even better.

"In the last Euros, Dani Olmo came in with an injury. He could have stayed at home. We decided to risk him. Olmo came, he recovered, and he was top scorer. Nobody remembers that now, but I do."