Luis de la Fuente is optimistic about Spain’s chances against tournament favorites France, sharing his “We are both teams that would be considered a candidate for the final,” for the upcoming semi-final in Dallas on Tuesday.
Following Spain’s 2-1 win over Belgium in the quarter-finals, De la Fuente praised his team’s collective effort, particularly noting the contributions from midfielders Fabian Ruiz and Mikel Merino.
“France has exceptional potential, and so do we. We have very high expectations for the next game. We are aware of the great potential the opponent in front of us has, but are also aware that the only team that has beaten them in the last two semi-finals they’ve played has been us.” De la Fuente stated through a translator. “I think the game is very open [to win]. It will require fresh, energetic players. It will require us to be the best version, it will require us to improve, but since we are there, we are going to give everything.”
He added, “Everybody on the pitch has a task and they do it very well,”
Spain draws strength from their recent 2-1 victory over France in the Euro 2024 quarter-finals, a significant milestone in their journey for continental success. Meanwhile, France has shown impressive form throughout the tournament, recently dominating Morocco in their last encounter.
De la Fuente remains confident in the depth and talent of his squad. His decision to field Ruiz, while bringing Pedri off the bench during the second half, raised some eyebrows, yet Ruiz justified the coach’s faith by scoring his inaugural World Cup goal, with Merino also replicating his late winning strike against Portugal.
“Pedri is a class player, one of the best in the world if not the best, but Fabian is also one of the best players in the world if not the best. It is unfair not to value those players who unfortunately – like Mikel Merino, like [Martín] Zubimendi, like Gavi, other players who haven’t gotten to play – they are as good as the ones who are playing. I insist, we have to make decisions that are always very elaborate, very analysed, very tailored to the opponent.” De la Fuente noted. “Their squad doesn’t just come down to a couple of players,”
Rudi Garcia, the coach of Belgium, acknowledged the extensive options available to De la Fuente, stressing the importance of team cohesion.
“It’s the team as a whole. It’s practically the same as their team at the Euros. That’s very important for a national team, to have continuity with players who play together for a long time and write history.” Garcia remarked. “It’s a great matchup, two of the best teams in the world,”
Spain’s ability to neutralize France will depend on their tactical approach. Rodri led the team with a remarkable 98 successful passes out of 104 attempts, but Belgium managed to disrupt Spain’s flow after halftime, particularly following Ruiz’s exit. Lamine Yamal succeeded in creating space but faced difficulties with his final deliveries, while Mikel Oyarzabal struggled to make a mark in the offensive third.
Despite these obstacles, De la Fuente has time to refine his strategies. Furthermore, Spain can find motivation in individual achievements, such as Unai Simon’s impressive 650-minute shutout streak in the World Cup and De la Fuente’s unbeaten run spanning 13 matches across the World Cup and Euros.
To maintain that record against France, Spain will need to deliver their best performance.
“We both have great teams with different characteristics. But with the utmost respect for our rival, we feel capable of beating any team. Not only because of the support we have now, but because of the confidence we have in this group of players, the potential we have, and our awareness of who we are. We are in a great position.” De la Fuente said. “We both have great teams with different characteristics. But with the utmost respect for our rival, we feel capable of beating any team. Not only because of the support we have now, but because of the confidence we have in this group of players, the potential we have, and our awareness of who we are. We are in a great position.”
As the semi-final looms, Spain’s confidence and preparation will be crucial in their pursuit of victory.
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