Spain head into the forthcoming as one of the leading title contenders. As reigning continental champions and former global ones, the nation has pedigree and a squad stacked with quality, including starlet Lamine Yamal, who looks destined to shine on the global stage.
With less than a month to go until they start their campaign against Cabo Verde in Atlanta, head coach Luis de la Fuente sat down with FIFA to discuss the blueprint for a La Roja team determined to challenge for this sport’s ultimate prize.
Luis de la Fuente: That we can get better and better. There’s still plenty of room for improvement. We have a hugely gifted group of players, but many of them are very young. Blending them with the more experienced figures in the squad has provided stability and a clear sense of direction.
A tournament of this magnitude, featuring such strong national teams, is a real opportunity to build on everything we’ve achieved so far. But we’ll also be facing much higher expectations.
Immensely proud. My relationship with around 90% of the current squad goes back years. I’ve even known some of them since they were ten or 12. I’ve witnessed every stage of their development and we’ve grown together. It transcends the normal relationship between a player and coach.
I actually think that’s one of our strengths: the trust and understanding within the group gives us the confidence to push ourselves as far as we can go. It’s very reassuring.
For me, the watchword is “team”. That must take precedence over individual talent, which should always serve the team. The collective should always come before the individual. That’s the standard of behaviour we expect. It’s crucial. Individual talent alone is not enough to win big competitions. You can win matches, but not tournaments. This group has had it instilled in them that teamwork is one of our biggest strengths.
I try to take the pressure off and keep defeats in perspective. You can do almost everything right and still lose at this level. The players need to stay calm, take responsibility, be professional, push themselves and be respectful, showing team spirit and generosity. We’re all about the values that are central to teamwork – playing for themselves and for one another.
I like that you said “one of the frontrunners”. There’s a very strong field of contenders, unlike anything I can remember from recent World Cups. There are some top teams who all have the mindset to become champions. That shouldn’t weigh on us. Our hard work and great team performances have got us this far. It all stems from the approach we’ve been taking.
I think we’ve won over a young generation that, for years, lacked a sense of pride in the national team. Securing our first title since 2012 has enabled us to reconnect with those fans; positive results naturally help. I’d like us to be remembered in the same way as the team coached by my idol Vicente del Bosque: as a generation of footballers who understand not only what it means to play the game, but also what it means to be human.
He’s very young. He made his debut with us at 16. He’s now 18 and we’re instilling the fundamental principles of football in him. It’s about teaching him the values he should have in both football and life. They have to go hand-in-hand. He’s hungry to grow and improve and he sets high standards, especially for himself. That willingness to learn means that he’s very open to receiving advice. That’s a recipe for success as long as you stay injury-free.
Playing every match as if it’s our last, respecting our opponents and being ready to challenge for the highest honours. The only things we ask for are effort, hard work and dedication. The results will take care of themselves.
Sources: FIFA Official
