Ricardo Rodriguez’s future continues to be open. The positioning known as Germany.
Granit Xhaka is a nationwide workforce file participant with 127 worldwide caps. He’s the workforce’s captain, director and legend. Xherdan Shaqiri has 124 video games underneath his belt for Switzerland. He’s the person for the particular moments, for glasses and the necessary video games.
And Ricardo Rodriguez? Since breaking into the nationwide workforce within the autumn of 2011, the 31-year-old has made 117 worldwide appearances. Nobody has performed in additional finals than Rodriguez, who has 23 appearances in 6 World and European Championships (Xhaka and Shaqiri have 22). In opposition to Germany and within the closing, he may first meet up with Heinz Hermann (118) within the all-time rankings, depart him behind and turn into the one Swiss quantity 3.
Nevertheless, the 2009 U17 world champion continues to be considerably underrated. On the one hand, this could possibly be because of their reserved nature. Rodriguez prefers to indicate his class on the sphere reasonably than give info in entrance of the microphone. Then again, additionally due to his model of play. The Torino participant shouldn’t be one for exhibits. Not even at this EURO, the place he performs left again within the three man chain. «I attempt to assist my teammates. If issues aren’t going nicely for somebody, I attempt to step in and do issues that I do not actually like.”
31 and never in the slightest degree drained
Rodriguez is now 31 years previous, however his emotions usually are not the identical. « I really feel younger, I really feel good. At Torino I discovered that I’ve to work even tougher and never let my head down. I additionally handle my well being off the sphere. The efficiency values are nonetheless proper.” He due to this fact hopes that there will likely be extra finals along with the earlier 6.
To realize this, he should set the course at membership degree over the summer season. His contract in Italy, the place he additionally captained the workforce, expires and won’t be renewed. He’s the one nationwide workforce participant in the marketplace. “It is positively not straightforward on the pinnacle,” he admits. However he tries to place that apart and never suppose too arduous. As for the brand new membership, he simply has to slot in and make sense”. He has no alternative, he’s open to all the things – even his predominant membership FCZ, the place he performed till 2012, is “at all times there” within the dialogue.
Germany on the chest, final on the thoughts
The ultimate in opposition to Germany is far much less sooner or later. Qualification for the spherical of 16 shouldn’t be but confirmed for the nationwide workforce, however even a win needs to be sufficient. With a win, the nationwide workforce will win Group A. “I do not care if we are available in first, second or third,” says Rodriguez. The one factor that issues is that you just transfer on. He has the ultimate recreation in his head. “Each participant ought to suppose like that.”
Legend:
He has been on the nationwide workforce for 13 years
Ricardo Rodriguez, right here earlier than the sport in opposition to Scotland.
KEY/Peter Klaunzer
It stays unclear whether or not Rodriguez will play in any respect on Sunday in opposition to Germany, the place he performed in 184 video games for Wolfsburg between the winter of 2012 and the summer season of 2017. Nevertheless, this isn’t right down to Rodriguez himself or load administration. , however due to the yellow card he acquired in opposition to Scotland.
Together with Remo Freuler, Silvan Widmer and Vincent Sierro, he’s one among 4 gamers who face a ban for the spherical of 16 if they’re cautioned once more. “It is a disgrace, you are already banned after 2 yellows, I feel it could be higher after 3,” says Rodriguez. But when it was as much as him, he could be solely too completely happy to play in opposition to Germany – and cease Hermann’s mark en passant.