Spain coach Luis de la Fuente believes his team has what it takes to eliminate tournament favourites France in the World Cup semifinal, stating he has "very high expectations" for the clash against Didier Deschamps' side in Dallas on Tuesday. Speaking after Spain's 2-1 quarter-final victory over Belgium, De la Fuente praised a full-squad effort with goals from midfielders Fabian Ruiz and Mikel Merino.
De la Fuente's Confidence in Spain's Depth
"We are both teams that would be considered a candidate for the final," De la Fuente said through a translator. "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." Spain defeated France 2-1 at the same stage of Euro 2024, en route to winning the continental title.
"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," De la Fuente added.
Spain's Squad Rotation Pays Off
De la Fuente's decision to start Fabian Ruiz in midfield raised eyebrows, with Pedri coming off the bench early in the second half. Ruiz rewarded his manager with his first-ever World Cup goal, while Mikel Merino scored the winner after coming on as a substitute. "Everybody on the pitch has a task and they do it very well," De la Fuente said. "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."
Belgium coach Rudi Garcia admired Spain's depth. "Their squad doesn't just come down to a couple of 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."
Key Performances and Records
Rodri led Spain in touches and completed 98 of his 104 pass attempts, but Belgium had success after half-time in pulling him out of position. Lamine Yamal found space but lacked incisiveness in the final third. Goalkeeper Unai Simon's World Cup shutout streak, which began in 2022, ended at 650 minutes. De la Fuente remains unbeaten in 13 games across the World Cup and Euros.
"It's a great matchup, two of the best teams in the world," 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."
