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De la Fuente draws "positive conclusions" from draw with Brazil

The coach analysed the match against the Samba Boys: "The team is coming on in leaps and bounds"
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Wed, 27/03/2024 - 11:07

Luis de la Fuente appeared before the media in the press room at the Santiago Bernabéu convinced that "positive conclusions" could be drawn from the 3-3 draw against Brazil, in a match that, despite being a friendly, "could have been a World Cup final" in terms of quality and intensity. A match that he described as "vibrant and hot" from the beginning to the end, and in which he acknowledged, with a smile on his face, that at the end he had to "make peace with" the result. He regretted not having won a match in which he had felt his team were superior.  

 

Those positive conclusions for De la Fuente came from the image of the team throughout the match, a "close group" image that he is trying to make the hallmark of the national team. After the defeat in London against Colombia, the Spain performance against Brazil was totally different. "The team is growing by leaps and bounds," said the coach, before going on to assess other more specific issues.

For example, he praised players such as Lamine Yamal, Unai Simón, Dani Olmo, Álvaro Morata, Nico Williams and Fabián, for whom he was full of praise.

 

However, with an eye to the future of the forthcoming European Championships, the coach pointed out that it will not be easy for players to make the squad. "There are players who weren't in the squad today and who could have been," he repeated, as he usually does, without wanting to name specific names. Those options he has to choose from allowed him to stress that Spain has "very good potential" in all areas.

 

By way of conclusion, he reaffirmed that, after the game, his team are "back to their best" and with high morale.  

 

MORE INFORMATION: The match report