As Spain’s players departed their locker room in Arlington, head coach Luis de la Fuente gathered them for a motivating final address before facing France in the World Cup semi-final. He had been pondering his words for hours, determined to uplift his squad. Less than a day earlier, he had expressed, “I’ll tell them that this is a unique stage, the kind of moment that may never be repeated again, and that we have to be ourselves,” Now, that thought crystallized as he told the team: “We’re facing one of the best lineups in the world,”
Their return to the pitch was met with palpable excitement, highlighted by Marc Cucurella’s enthusiastic shout: “but we’re the best team in the world.” The celebration continued as King Felipe reached out to De la Fuente, conveying similar feelings in a more refined manner. With Jamaican tunes playing and pizza shared among teammates, they basked in their achievement. Dani Olmo noted, “It was written: we started in Atlanta and we end in New York,” recognizing the importance of their journey, but this semi-final held a unique significance.
Confronting formidable rivals like Kylian Mbappé and Ousmane Dembélé, the Spanish team rose to the challenge. One teammate exclaimed, “Take him out your pocket!” while another urged, “I’m not into these ‘literary’ or ‘journalistic’ phrases. I’m made of different stuff. What we have done is very hard, why would we not be happy? I value the journey, what we have done. Only one team can win the World Cup and whatever happens this is a success.” Lamine Yamal humorously replied, “It will be the game of our lives,” showcasing the lighthearted camaraderie among the players. Over the last three years, Spain had triumphed over France in consecutive semi-finals of both the Euros and the Nations League, and now they had done it again on the World Cup stage. Perhaps it was time for the world to see Spain as the favorites, as they had always believed.
The statistics reinforce this assertion. No semi-finalist has been held to such a low performance since Sweden eight World Cups ago. This encounter transcended the mere score; it was about the execution. The match unfolded with remarkable fluidity as Spain dominated possession, leaving the French team struggling to make an impact. France, appearing resigned to defeat, found it difficult to assert themselves. On the sidelines, Spain’s players embraced, exuding confidence and composure.
Rodri articulated the team’s spirit: “Centre-backs don’t like having to come to there,” When asked about Luis Aragonés’ viewpoint on not celebrating until a title is secured, De la Fuente acknowledged his respect for Aragonés but firmly stated, “It was planned to be in our best shape at the most important moment,”
Rodri emphasized, “We know France, how dangerous they are, but we also knew how to deactivate them. But in the end, it’s down to the players. However much you tell them something, it’s down to them to know how to find the spaces. Your pieces of paper and all the arrows aren’t worth much without them. Spanish players are the best precisely because of that interpretation of football. We started four years ago and we have been faithful to an idea, which is what brought us here.” possibly referring to the fact that they had already played it, affirming their identity as a cohesive unit. In stark contrast, France’s star-studded lineup seemed adrift and unable to counter Spain’s strategies. Despite being previous finalists, their performance fell flat; they had scored more goals than any team in the tournament but failed to register a single shot on target until late in the match against Spain. Their expected goals (xG) plummeted from an average of 2.4 per game to a mere 0.31, the lowest in their history. In contrast, Spain recorded an impressive 1.7 xG while conceding only 0.6 xG.
While narratives often focus on individual stars, this match underscored the collective strength of the Spanish squad. While Lamine Yamal drew comparisons to Mbappé, it is crucial to acknowledge that success stems from teamwork. Amidst the discussions surrounding Yamal’s potential, it is vital to recognize that he, along with the entire team, embodies the essence of this collaborative effort.
In the days leading up to the match, De la Fuente and Rodri stressed the importance of Yamal maintaining composure, working to ease any “We said: ‘Back then could you ever have imagined being here?’” he might experience. This approach served as both a protective measure for the young player and a strategic tactic. Spain’s disciplined performance against France was marked by precise execution and calculated risks. Yamal, for instance, demonstrated maturity by minimizing turnovers, showing that his playing style was a key part of their game plan.
Spain’s strategy encompassed all players, including goalkeeper Unai Simón, who consistently challenged Mbappé. Rodri, whom De la Fuente describes as “made for our model,” excelled in duels and completed more passes than any other player on the field. Olmo captured the attention of former player Juan Mata, who remarked on social media, “How he plays!” Fabián Ruiz, boasting 49 matches for Spain without a loss, and Pau Cubarsí, from a village lacking a football pitch, emerged as standout figures. Cubarsí may be the tournament’s premier center-back, rivaled only by Aymeric Laporte, who remains with the French team heading to the final.
Cucurella provided two assists, while Pedro Porro scored twice, exemplifying the significant contribution of attacking full-backs, all while conceding just two goals throughout the tournament. Spain has allowed fewer than 1.5 shots on target per match. The build-up to Porro’s goal showcased Spain’s ability to transition effectively from challenging situations, emphasizing the tactical plan and execution by players like Mikel Oyarzabal, who plays as a midfielder in this setup. Oyarzabal explained, “Centre-backs don’t like having to come to there,” illustrating the mechanics of their approach while emphasizing that his role is to “not get in the way.” Notably, he is now the leading goalscorer for Spain in World Cup history.
Although the match began at a measured pace, Spain found themselves exactly where they envisioned, even when faced with skepticism. De la Fuente remarked, “It was planned to be in our best shape at the most important moment. We know France, how dangerous they are, but we also knew how to deactivate them. But in the end, it’s down to the players. However much you tell them something, it’s down to them to know how to find the spaces. Your pieces of paper and all the arrows aren’t worth much without them. Spanish players are the best precisely because of that interpretation of football. We started four years ago and we have been faithful to an idea, which is what brought us here.”
While tactics have evolved, returning to the control that has characterized Spanish football, the commitment to teamwork and competitive spirit remains steadfast. De la Fuente shared heartfelt embraces with players from the 2015 Under-19 Euro-winning team, reminiscing about their shared journey.
“We said: ‘Back then could you ever have imagined being here?’”
Though they may not have envisioned this moment in 2015, De la Fuente always held belief. The current Spanish squad, European champions like their predecessors, now stands on the brink of the World Cup final. The legendary 2010 team is often viewed as an unmatched standard, but this generation has validated their worth with a performance that exceeds expectations. Regardless of individual names, De la Fuente has consistently maintained that Spain’s players are the finest, reiterating this to them just before they stepped onto the field to prove it true.
