Rodri warns best yet to come from Spain ahead of last-16 clash with Portugal

[p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/spain/bLyo6mco/"]Spain[/a], one of the favourites in North America, were held to a shock 0-0 draw with debutants [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/cape-verde/MocyWdm7/"]Cape Verde[/a] to open their title charge.[/p][p]They then beat [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/saudi-arabia/biSY8ox4/"]Saudi Arabia[/a] 4-0 and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/uruguay/xMk44orG/"]Uruguay[/a] 1-0 to top their group, before a statement 3-0 win over a dogged but limited [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/austria/naHiWdnt/"]Austria[/a] in the last 32.[/p][embed guid="d25185d3-4484-43a0-8abc-89e414ff9ce4" url="https://x.com/FIFAWorldCup/status/2072970461399732600/video/1" social-type="twitter" /][p]That impressive performance served notice to their rivals, and midfield general Rodri said that was just the start.[/p][p][b]"Spain's evolution (at the tournament) has been gradual," [/b]the 30-year-old Manchester City ace told reporters on Sunday ahead of the [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/portugal-WvJrjFVN/spain-bLyo6mco/?mid=tbTsReVa"]meeting with Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal[/a] in Texas.[/p][p][b]"Obviously in a sense that is normal - in the first games you try to adapt to a different environment, different pitch, different type of teams you face, it is never easy.[/b][/p][p][b]"So I think in a gradual way, always growing and always knowing that the big things are coming now."[/b][/p][p]Spain's goalless stalemate with Cape Verde came as a huge surprise, but Rodri said: [b]"We didn't lose our heads, we stayed calm, and I think right now we still have a big gap of improvement."[/b][/p][infobox id="4ccc1b10-d68f-4c97-bcf4-5e613c17c2e3" /]