Spain midfielder Rodri has admitted that he is "relieved" to have made it to Euro 2020 after the whole national squad went into isolation eight days before their opening game.
Sergio Busquets tested positive for coronavirus last Sunday which meant that everyone in the Spanish camp had to isolate and resulted in players having to train on the own.
The whole squad received their coronavirus vaccinations on Friday to ensure the health and safety of themselves and their opponents this summer.
The Manchester City midfielder told reporters how their preparations have been affected: "The last few days you've had the idea going round in your head: Please don't let there be any positives. It's a terrible feeling that you could miss out on the euros because of this.
"We haven't been able to work the way that we would like. We have been doing more individual physical work, a little bit with the ball but not much and of course we prefer the ball. You lose that collective stuff which is what really makes things function well.
"Before all this happened, we would meet up and play cards but in the players' residence, the common areas were closed. Everyone was in their own rooms. We tried to get rid of any type of contact.
"Meals were organised so that everything was done separately, the tables were apart, we ate in shifts. It was a case of whatever it takes to ensure that no one else tests positive."
Rodri explained that relationships with club teammates will be all the more important for Spain due to the lack of training time as a national team squad: "The understanding with a club teammate is obviously better because you have been together all year. You are used to working in a certain way and if they are positions that are close together on the pitch like the centre-back with the holding midfielder then even better.
"Those things can help, and the understanding is very good, but it's also the case that we have been working together for a year with this group so we all understand each other."
Finally, when asked about how he will feel when he walks out at the Estadio Olimpico de Sevilla on Monday, Rodri said: "Relief, on the one hand and tension and desire on the other. There will be lots of emotions coming together, I'm sure."
Spain begin their Euro 2020 tournament against Sweden, before playing Poland and Slovakia in Group E.
Sammy Wynne
