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Extreme caution
Confirm Luis de la Fuente, coach of SpainHis team’s thoughts are fully focused on facing Belgium in the quarter-finals of the 2026 World Cup, stressing the need for caution, respect for the opposition and full confidence in his 26-man squad.
De La Fuente said. During a press conference at the SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles“Developing the squad and choosing the list is the most difficult task because every match is different from the others. We have players of the highest level, but with different characteristics, and the selection of elements is made after analyzing the opponent and the basic formation that guarantees the best match against him, and if there is a change, it is not a punishment for the player who is out.”
Strong competition
De La Fuente addressed the goalkeeping position and the comparison between Unai Simon and Courtois, saying: “Goalkeeping is a very specific position and a great team is always built by having a good goalkeeper who gives you a lot of confidence. Unai Simon, Ryan and Juan Garcia are three of the best goalkeepers in the world.”
The coach of Matador said about the Belgian national team’s attempts to transfer the pressure. “I am not afraid and stubborn, accepting our advantage, but there is no obvious candidate to win such matches. They will not transfer the pressure to us if they think that we are the closest to victory.”
“I’m flesh and blood and I get nervous too, but I have a lot of confidence in the things I’m in control of, and they’re completely in control. If something disappears, it is beyond our control and should not concern us. A job well done gives me peace of mind and I have great professionals with me.
“We have to go step by step and game by game, and our present and future is now Belgium. All the players are in great physical condition and we appreciate their contribution when we see fit, whether they start or at any other time, and we will assess whether they start the game or take part in other minutes.”
Sad memories
De la Fuente recalled the penalty that Eloy missed against Belgium in 1986, saying: “It was a sad day but Eloy was very brave when he took the penalty. I have sad memories because I have always been wholeheartedly with Spain and those matches left me affected and a little bit broken.”
He said about the magic recipe of the game. “Safety comes from having a good team, and safety comes from performance, attitude and behavior. Skillful work brings you closer to victory, and I took the drama out of defeat because you can do great work and still lose despite being superior to your opponent.
“We work on all possible scenarios in the short time available to us, whether in the field or through videos. We trained with penalties, we have specialists and we know them well, and we also have players who can adapt to these situations. strike.”
De La Fuente said about Pedri’s performance in the match against Portugal. “I see him in very good form and he always performs at a great level for us. His work was certainly not showy, but it was very practical and the players who took part benefited from his great efforts.”
Javi’s dream
The coach emphasized that the best defense belongs to Spain, saying: “We have always been very strong on the defensive side, even though we hit the goal the most in the tournament. If we are a team that reaches the opponent’s areas a lot and at the same time does not give them attacking opportunities, it reflects the great seriousness and organization of the team.
As for Xavi’s dream of scoring in the final, he said: “I will be very happy only in the final game and I will be happy for Xavi because we love him very much. What Xavi is showing reflects his ambition and desire to reach the furthest point, respecting the opponents we will face, but it proves that the player’s mind is on qualification.”
De La Fuente concluded his speech about playing indoors in hot weather by saying, “It is useful to play in such stadiums under a temperature of 22 degrees. We had this element of luck and even though this is how football goes, if we continue to progress, we will also have to play in the scorching sun.”
