De La Fuente. Afraid of France? They are the ones who should worry about us

Spain coach Luis de la Fuente has praised the character of his team and hero Merino after their dramatic 2-1 win over Belgium in the quarter-finals of the 2026 World Cup, stressing that Spain have the tools to trouble France in the upcoming semi-finals.

In an interview with La1 immediately after the match, De La Fuente said: “This is the character of the team in any circumstances and situations. I reaffirm my pride in leading this team that is hungry for growth and development. We deserved to win. We have to realize how difficult it is to win, we have to appreciate it.”

The Spanish coach heaped praise on golden substitute Merino, who scored in the 88th minute for the second straight knockout round match, saying:

Regarding next Tuesday’s semi-final against France, De La Fuente emphasized that Spain will not be the only side concerned, saying: “It is logical that we are doing our best to beat them, I think they are as worried as we are. We are the only team to beat them in two games in a row.