Iniesta: Pedri's drop out of the starting lineup surprised me; Messi is the undisputed choice.

In an interview, Iniesta discussed Pedri's relegation to the bench and offered advice on how Spain could defeat Argentina.

In the 2010 South Africa World Cup final, Iniesta scored against the Netherlands, securing Spain's first-ever World Cup title. Now, with less than 24 hours until their second World Cup final, Spain could add another star to their tally. The former Barcelona midfielder and current Dubai United coach discussed key topics related to this World Cup and the Spanish team on Cadena SER's "El Larguero" program.

“I really enjoy watching this Spanish team play. They have incredible talent; they are a group of very good players, and it’s no accident that they’ve reached the World Cup final,” Iniesta said. “All their achievements are built on the team, but of course, individual ability can also be a decisive factor.”

Iniesta admitted his surprise at Pedri's relegation from the starting lineup to the bench, and his failure to start in the last two matches (against Belgium and France): "I was surprised because my understanding of Pedri and his ability as a player are what they are. But ultimately, the World Cup is a very demanding tournament. The coach's feelings at every moment, the opponents faced, and the level of his teammates are all very important." He also compared Pedri's performances for Spain and Barcelona: "His playing style is certainly different because they are two different teams. I've received similar comments, but that's the reality. Pedri can play in any position he wants, but importantly, the coach has an incredibly wide range of options."

When discussing how to defeat Argentina, Iniesta offered the key: "Spain must stay true to its style and not be too fixated on any one player. No matter how hard you try to mark Messi, if you miss him for even a moment, he can cause you trouble. Spain must stick to what they've always done; if they do, even against very strong opponents, they can control the game at their own pace." Regarding Leo Messi, Iniesta was full of praise: "Leo is unstoppable; he played a decisive role throughout the World Cup, and his teammates were willing to go through fire and water for him. That's undeniable. What truly determines a game is the performance on the field, and in that respect, Messi is indisputable."