Luis de la Fuente strode across the pitch, having congratulated his players on a truly remarkable achievement. The final whistle had only just sounded on the semi-final, with . The coach's face was serious, yet behind his glasses there was a sparkle in the eye and a hint of a smile that revealed just how emotional he was.
“Right now, it's difficult to put into words what I feel, but I suppose it's something close to happiness and pride at leading, and I'll keep saying it, such an exceptional group of players. Of course, we still want to keep improving. There's one more step to go. That's what we're aiming for,” he said.
This was not merely Spain sealing victory in a FIFA World Cup™ semi-final against Kylian Mbappe’s France — a team brimming with talent — but they did so by staying true to themselves, imposing the slick passing and possession-based football that have defined De la Fuente’s tenure. Above all else, that was the 65-year-old's greatest source of satisfaction.
“There's so much tension built up right now. To be in a World Cup final is a huge responsibility. It's a privilege, something granted to very few. You have to let it all sink in. When we started out on this journey three, almost four, years ago, we had an idea. And that idea... well, we have stayed true to it, and it has taken us this far. So, I will say it again: I'm proud.”
De la Fuente’s emotion also owed much to the quality of the opposition Spain had just defeated, a team that had won every match they had played at this World Cup. “They were up against the best team in the world. We're talking about a different league today. That is a club. These people, these players, deserve everything because, day after day, they show commitment, generosity, solidarity and talent. Watching them play is a joy. They put on a real show today. They make the really difficult look easy.”
Pedro Porro, Spain’s right-back and scorer of the second goal against France, was named the of the Match. He was also quick to highlight the superb performance he and his teammates delivered in a commanding win settled without the need for extra time.
“It's a dream come true. I'm really happy with the team's attitude from start to finish, I think we performed really well," he said. "We did everything we had to do today to get through. We knew they were a tough team to beat. They’d been performing well up to now, but this is all about the team today, it wasn't just me out there. I just want to congratulate everyone because they played an incredible match,” he said.
“We knew that keeping the ball was one of the things that would take us closer to the final. We knew that dealing with their strength on the counter-attack would be crucial. And I think we did just that.”
Spain’s defensive resilience was another key feature of the performance, and goalkeeper Unai Simon has still conceded just one goal across the entire World Cup.
“I think keeping a clean sheet is one of the most important things in football, it makes such a big difference," young Barcelona centre-back Pau Cubarsi said. "Maybe there had been some talk about the defence and the goalkeeper not being at their best, but I think we've silenced a lot of people. We've conceded only once and we're in the final. I think we're doing an incredible job, and this is down to everyone, those who play and those on the bench too.”
It's official: Spain will play in the World Cup final on Sunday 19 July for only the second time in their history. The first came in 2010, when they went all the way and lifted the greatest prize in football. Can La Roja repeat the feat?
Sources: FIFA Official
