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Spain’s creative decision to play Rodri in defence is paying off at World Cup | Ben McAleer

30-Nov-2022 15:22:04 | The Guardian

Luis Enrique has found a smart solution to the problem every Spain manager faces: how do you use all your great midfielders?

By Ben McAleer for WhoScored

With Gerard Piqué retiring from football and Sergio Ramos overlooked for the World Cup squad, 2022 has been the end of an era for Spanish centre-backs. Luis Enrique took some criticism for not calling up Ramos – the most capped player in Spain’s history – but the manager stuck to his guns and deserves credit for doing so.

Luis Enrique selected four centre-backs in his squad for Qatar: Aymeric Laporte, Pau Torres and Eric García, who went to the Euros last summer, and the versatile youngster Hugo Guillamón. Yet, despite the availability of these experienced centre-backs, Luis Enrique has used Rodri alongside his Manchester City teammate Laporte at the heart of defence in Spain’s first two games in Qatar.