Luis de la Fuente is optimistic that his Spanish squad can overcome tournament favorites France, stating he holds “We are both teams that would be considered a candidate for the final,” for their semi-final match against Didier Deschamps’ team in Dallas on Tuesday.
After Spain secured a 2-1 victory over Belgium in the quarter-finals, De la Fuente emphasized the collective effort, highlighting goals from Fabian Ruiz and Mikel Merino, both vital components of his midfield strategy.
“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 remarked 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 can draw confidence from their earlier victory over France, a 2-1 win at the same stage during Euro 2024, marking a key step in their quest for continental success. Meanwhile, France has showcased impressive form throughout the tournament, dominating Morocco in their quarter-final match.
De la Fuente maintains faith in the talent and depth of his roster, even when critics questioned his decision to start Ruiz in midfield while Pedri began the match on the bench. Ruiz repaid his coach’s trust by scoring his inaugural World Cup goal, and Merino made a significant impact after coming on, following up his late winner 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 stated. “Their squad doesn’t just come down to a couple of players,”
Rudi Garcia, Belgium’s coach, expressed admiration for the depth of Spain’s squad, acknowledging that their strength extends beyond a few standout players.
“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 noted. “It’s a great matchup, two of the best teams in the world,”
The key to Spain’s success against France will hinge on their execution. Rodri stood out with a remarkable performance, leading Spain in touches and completing 98 out of 104 pass attempts. However, Belgium managed to pull him out of position in the second half, particularly after Ruiz’s substitution. Lamine Yamal struggled to make a significant impact despite finding space, while Mikel Oyarzabal had difficulty getting involved in attacking plays.
Nonetheless, De la Fuente has time to address these issues before the crucial match. Additionally, individual milestones have been achieved, including Unai Simon’s impressive World Cup shutout streak, which ended at 650 minutes, and De la Fuente’s remarkable record of being unbeaten in 13 matches across the World Cup and Euros.
To extend that unbeaten streak against France, Spain will need to perform at their highest level.
“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.”
Spain’s ability to slow down France’s momentum will determine the outcome of this highly anticipated encounter.
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