Luis de la Fuente says Spain is the best team in the world after a clinical 2-0 win over France sent La Roja into qualification. world cup final for the first time since their victory in 2010.
Mikel Oyarzabal converted a penalty in the 22nd minute after Lucas Digne fouled Lamine Yamal in the box, before Pedro Porro doubled the lead just before the hour mark.
France, who arrived in Arlington having scored 16 goals in the tournament and with Kylian Mbappé the top scorer with eight, were limited to just 0.3 expected goals per 90 minutes.
De la Fuente, speaking after the final whistle, struggled to contain his emotion and insisted the job is not done yet.
“It’s hard to describe how it feels, but I know it’s something that feels like happiness,” he said. “The pride I have for each of the players in this group is great, but now we have to move forward, we still have one more step to go, we are going to try to achieve it.
“A lot of tension accumulates, it is an enormous responsibility, and being in the final of a World Cup is a luxury. It is only for the chosen ones and the rest have to try to repeat it, not in this squad, but when we started almost four years ago with an idea, a philosophy, and that has brought us here. I am very proud of this.”
“They make the difficult look so easy”
Spain’s performance against a France team that had conceded only twice in the entire tournament generated widespread admiration, and de la Fuente did not filter into his assessment of his team’s position among the elite of world football.
“Today we played against one of the national teams in the world, but they faced the best team in the world,” he said.
“That’s different. These players deserve everything because they demonstrate day after day their commitment, their generosity, their talent. It was wonderful to see them play so spectacularly today. They make what is difficult seem so easy. Happy, proud and what calms me down now is that we are beginning to realize where we are.”
‘It is an honor to be Spanish’
De la Fuente, who took charge of the national team in 2022 and is unbeaten since a loss to Colombia shortly after his appointment, also took time to address fans watching at home and around the world.
“Total gratitude for the enormous displays of support and affection and strength that you send us,” he stated. “It is an honor to be Spanish, it is an honor to feel that you are bringing together an entire country.”
Spain will face the winner of the second semi-final between England and Argentina in the World Cup final, which will be played on July 19.
