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De la Fuente says Spain has grown stronger ahead of World Cup semi-final clash with France
14th July, 2026 05:00 PM
Spain head coach Luis de la Fuente believes his team has made significant progress since the start of the 2026 FIFA World Cup as they prepare to face France in a semifinal match on Tuesday, July 14, 2026.
The Spanish side is just one victory away from reaching only its second-ever World Cup final. After a difficult beginning to the tournament that included a goalless draw against Cabo Verde, Spain has responded in impressive fashion by winning five matches in a row, putting itself in position to compete for a second World Cup title after lifting the trophy in South Africa in 2010.
Speaking to Spanish broadcaster RTVE, De la Fuente reflected on that opening match, admitting the Cabo Verde encounter “feels like it belongs to another World Cup, another year, and another century.”
Slow start criticism
Despite the criticism that followed Spain’s slow start, the coach stressed that the team’s philosophy has remained unchanged throughout the competition.
He explained that Spain hadn’t “changed and we’re still following the same approach we’ve had since we started training. We’re the same team, following the same process we planned (…) so we’re exactly where we wanted to be, in the place we wanted to be, and playing the way we wanted to be.”
Spain’s semifinal against France will be another meeting between two familiar rivals, having also crossed paths in the semifinals of Euro 2024 and the 2025 UEFA Nations League.
De la Fuente said he always expected France to challenge for the title.
“France was one of the favourites,” he said, while predicting that Tuesday’s contest would bear little resemblance to Spain’s 2-1 victory at Euro 2024 or last year’s dramatic 5-4 Nations League encounter.
“They are completely different teams. It’s a different era, even though many players have already been there. There will be changes in various aspects, both in terms of football and tactics.”
Continuous development
The Spain manager also believes both national teams have continued to develop since those previous meetings.
“I think both teams have improved,” said De la Fuente, who also expressed confidence that teenage sensation Lamine Yamal still has another level to reach, insisting the winger has yet to produce his “best match in this World Cup.”
He added: “He’s going to be a player who will leave a good impression between now and the end of the World Cup.”
Looking at Spain’s journey through the tournament, De la Fuente described the World Cup as a competition where teams naturally evolve as they advance.
He pointed out that “Saudi Arabia or Cabo Verde are not the same as Belgium, Austria or Portugal.”
The coach emphasised that every opponent presents a unique challenge but praised his players for adapting to different situations throughout the tournament.
“Each team has its own demands and its own unique characteristics… but this team is very intelligent and knows how to navigate each moment of every match. We’re now facing France, a team we know very well and where they know us very well. It won’t have anything to do with the past,” he concluded.
