Spain finds the spirit of the World Cup 2010: De La Fuente after the victory of France
Spain coach Luis de la Fuente believes his side have rediscovered the spirit that carried La Roja to their first World Cup title in 2010 after brushing aside France to reach the final of the 2026 tournament.
Spain outclassed tournament favorites France 2-0 in Dallas they will book just their second World Cup final on Tuesday. After the win, De la Fuente praised the unity, humility and selflessness in his team, saying the current group reminds him of the team that conquered the world in South Africa 16 years ago.
France vs Spain FIFA World Cup 2026: HIGHLIGHTS
“The message was that we were up against one of the best teams in the world, but that they were up against the best team in the world,” De la Fuente said.
“These players show determination, solidarity and talent. They make a difficult appearance look easy. They have talent and the right attitude towards life and sports.”
The Spain boss said what pleased him most was not just the performance on the pitch but the culture his players had built behind the scenes.
“I see a happy dressing room and nation behind us. We have recaptured the spirit of 2010,” he said.
“The character of this team is evident in the fact that those who didn’t play stayed after the game to train.”
Spanish tactical master class completely neutralized France’s star attackwho scored 16 goals before the semi-finals. Kylian Mbappe, Ousmane Dembele and Michael Olise were kept quiet as France failed to register a shot on target until the 80th minute.
TEAM FIRST, EGO LAST
De la Fuente attributed Spain’s success to a collective mentality within the team, insisting that each member of the group had opted for a shared vision rather than chasing individual glory.
“I believe the most important thing is to know how to choose your travel companions. If you choose your travel companions wrong, you can end up with a problem,” he said.
“We know that this team – not just the players, but everyone who makes up the team – works towards a common goal with equal enthusiasm, and we are ordinary, generous people who seek the common good before our own individual interests.”
Spain have now gone 37 games unbeaten, equaling Italy’s all-time international record, but De la Fuente believes his side are still far from their ceiling.
“This team never ceases to amaze me. The room for improvement is endless,” he said.
“It was a labor of love, a process. It was about getting to the defining moment in the best possible shape.”
ONE WIN FROM THE GLORY WORLD CUP
Spain are now just one win away from lifting their second FIFA World Cup title to add to the UEFA Euro 2024 crown they won under De la Fuente.
The Spain coach admitted he would have liked to meet Lionel Scaloni’s Argentina in the final because of their friendship, but also praised England, describing the second semi-final as a contest worthy of deciding the World Cup itself.
“I don’t believe in the idea that the final is there to win. They are there to enjoy it,” said De la Fuente.
“What’s to come could be the icing on the cake.”
If Spain can produce one more performance like the one that dismantled France, De la Fuente’s side will have the chance to complete one of the greatest eras in the nation’s footballing history.
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Issued by:
Debodinna Chakraborty
Published on:
15 Jul 2026 05:19 IST