As the team departed the dressing room in Arlington, Luis de la Fuente rallied his “I’ll tell them that this is a unique stage, the kind of moment that may never be repeated again, and that we have to be ourselves,” with a powerful message before their World Cup semi-final clash against France. Having prepared for this moment for over 50 days, he knew what to convey—this was a rare opportunity that might never occur again. He had previously stated that they must remain true to themselves, and now he crystallized that thought, asserting, “We’re facing one of the best lineups in the world,”
Upon their return, Marc Cucurella’s voice rose above the cheers, capturing the essence of the moment with an enthusiastic, “but we’re the best team in the world.” The excitement even reached King Felipe, who called De la Fuente to express similar sentiments, albeit more courteously. With music pumping and pizza circulating, the atmosphere was electric, though some players sat quietly, reflecting on their achievement. Dani Olmo remarked, “It was written: we started in Atlanta and we end in New York,” but a semi-final victory was not expected to unfold this way.
This was particularly true against formidable opponents like Kylian Mbappé, Ousmane Dembélé, and Michael Olise. One teammate exclaimed, “Take him out your pocket!” while another teased, “I’m not into these ‘literary’ or ‘journalistic’ phrases. I’m made of different stuff. What we have done is very hard, why would we not be happy? I value the journey, what we have done. Only one team can win the World Cup and whatever happens this is a success.” Lamine Yamal humorously replied, “It will be the game of our lives,” For the third consecutive year, Spain triumphed over France in a semi-final, having previously eliminated them from both the Euros in 2024 and the Nations League in 2025. Perhaps this success should have been anticipated; maybe Spain deserved to be seen as the favorites, just as they believed.
Statistics support their dominance. France’s performance was the weakest for a semi-finalist since Sweden eight World Cups ago, but this was France, not Sweden. The result was significant, but the manner of their victory was even more impressive. The game was not meant to be so easily controlled, with Spanish fans chanting olés as French players struggled to keep pace. France appeared resigned to defeat, their hopes of reaching the final extinguished by a relentless Spanish side. On the sidelines, the Spanish squad embraced, devoid of nerves or tension, counting down to their success.
Rodri shared, “Centre-backs don’t like having to come to there,” when asked about the post-match atmosphere. When reminded of Luis Aragonés’s philosophy of not celebrating until victory is secured, De la Fuente, who holds great respect for Aragonés, responded differently. “It was planned to be in our best shape at the most important moment,” he insisted, “We know France, how dangerous they are, but we also knew how to deactivate them. But in the end, it’s down to the players. However much you tell them something, it’s down to them to know how to find the spaces. Your pieces of paper and all the arrows aren’t worth much without them. Spanish players are the best precisely because of that interpretation of football. We started four years ago and we have been faithful to an idea, which is what brought us here.”
Rodri stated, “We said: ‘Back then could you ever have imagined being here?’” but perhaps they had already experienced it, showcasing their identity. France presented a disjointed image, a team lacking answers as Spain thwarted their every move. Expected to excel, France had scored the most goals in the tournament but managed not a single shot on target until the final quarter against Spain. Their expected goals (xG) plummeted from an average of 2.4 per game to a mere 0.31, the lowest in their history, while Spain amassed 1.7 xG with defensive resilience allowing only 0.6 xG against.
If star power was the narrative, Lamine Yamal emerged victorious against Mbappé, now standing at 9-2 in their encounters, with Yamal just having turned 19. However, the true story transcends individual accolades. The focus on Yamal’s performance has overshadowed the collective strength of the team. Despite the spotlight on him, Yamal understands the essence of teamwork.
Prior to the match, De la Fuente and Rodri emphasized the need for Yamal to stay composed, avoiding the “anxiety” that can accompany high expectations. This message served as both a protective gesture for the young player and a tactical strategy. Spain’s disciplined performance against France was defined by calculated risks taken within the framework of their game plan. Yamal executed his role perfectly, minimizing errors and fulfilling his part in a well-orchestrated strategy.
The collective effort extended from the goalkeeper, Unai Simón, to every player on the pitch, including Rodri, who De la Fuente hailed as “made for our model.” Rodri outperformed all French players in duels and led in passing accuracy. Olmo’s skills even caught the attention of Juan Mata, who tweeted, “How he plays!” Fabián Ruiz, with 49 appearances for Spain, has never faced defeat, while Pau Cubarsí, hailing from a village without a football pitch, has emerged as one of the tournament’s top centre-backs, alongside Aymeric Laporte, another French player advancing to the final.
Cucurella contributed two assists, and Pedro Porro scored twice, a testament to the effectiveness of attacking full-backs, resulting in Spain conceding just two goals throughout the tournament. They have allowed fewer than 1.5 shots on target per match. Observing Porro’s goal highlights Spain’s ability to transition from a tight corner with remarkable composure. Mikel Oyarzabal, often considered a midfielder, embodies the strategy employed by Spain; as he explained, “Centre-backs don’t like having to come to there.” He aims to “not get in the way,” despite being a quiet figure with five goals, the highest by any Spaniard in World Cup history.
Though the beginning of their journey was slow, Spain now finds themselves exactly where they envisioned, even when others doubted. “It was planned to be in our best shape at the most important moment,” De la Fuente remarked. “We know France, how dangerous they are, but we also knew how to deactivate them. Ultimately, it’s down to the players. No matter how much planning you do, it’s their responsibility to identify the spaces. Your strategies don’t mean much without their execution. Spanish players excel because of their footballing interpretation. We began this journey four years ago and have remained committed to our vision, which has brought us here.”
Adjustments have been made along the way. Two years ago, Spain embraced a more dynamic style, but they have now reverted to the control that once defined their play. This continuity, combined with fierce competitiveness and commitment to teamwork, has deep roots. De la Fuente’s most heartfelt embraces were reserved for those he guided to victory in the 2015 Under-19 Euros, reflecting on their journey.
“We said: ‘Back then could you ever have imagined being here?’”
While the 2010 World Cup-winning team is often viewed as an unattainable ideal, this current squad, also European champions, is poised to compete in the World Cup final. Notably, the 2010 team never delivered a performance quite like this one. Regardless of the individual accolades, De la Fuente consistently emphasizes that Spain’s players are the finest. Just before they took the field, he reiterated this sentiment, collectively affirming their status on the global stage.
