Luis de la Fuente: "We'll Give Everything to Reach the Final"

Is there a favourite?

"Being favourites or not means nothing. It isn't decisive. Two great national teams are facing each other, and the only pressure we feel is the one we place on ourselves to represent our country and our people."

How do you stop France?

"We've studied them in great detail. We've known each other very well for years and we know they have players of extraordinary quality—but so do we. We'll try to impose our style of play while limiting their strengths. The team that finds the best balance in every aspect of the game will be the one closest to victory."

On the 5-4 UEFA Nations League victory

"This is a different match. It's another semi-final, and we'll try to recreate the situations that worked in our favour last time while improving on the areas where we weren't at our best. We'll look to take the initiative, but we'll also have to be very careful with their counter-attacks because they're extremely dangerous."

Can you enjoy a match like this?

"I enjoy my job enormously. It's my passion, and I've been fortunate enough to turn it into my profession. It's a privilege to be where we are, playing in a World Cup semi-final. With all the responsibility that comes with it, we're determined to enjoy such a special and important occasion. The challenge is finding the right balance."

Has France improved since EURO 2024 and the 2025 Nations League?

"I think they're a much stronger team. Both France and Spain have continued to grow, and the level of both sides is higher today than it was two years ago. The players have developed individually and collectively."

What must Spain improve to reach the final?

"There's always room for improvement, and we demand that of ourselves because of the quality we have. Tomorrow is a match of the highest level—it could easily be a final, just like the England-Argentina semi-final. The four teams left are the top four in the FIFA World Ranking. We have to keep improving because the moment you're satisfied, things usually stop going your way."

His message to Lamine Yamal

"I just want him to stay calm and enjoy his football the way he always does. His big moment at this World Cup is still to come, and I hope it's tomorrow."

His final message to the squad

"Let's go out and enjoy ourselves because we're in a unique setting—one we may never experience again. We have to stay true to our identity while overcoming the challenges our opponents present. This team wants to compete until the very end and reach the final. We'll give everything."

A generation of players he has grown alongside

"I feel both pride and a sense of nostalgia when I look back on everything we've been through together. I've watched many of these players develop over the last eight or ten years. We've shared this journey, and winning the World Cup would be the perfect ending."

On France

"They're an outstanding team, just like Argentina, England and Spain. There's very little between what I believe are the four best national teams in the world. Each has its own strengths and style of play, but they're all exceptionally strong sides."

His greatest lesson as a coach

"You're constantly learning. The biggest lesson is that we have to become better every single day, and we know we can because we have outstanding players."