Luis de la Fuente praises France's progress ahead of 2026 World Cup semi-final
Spain's head coach highlighted the opponent's attacking threat and emphasized tactical discipline ahead of their World Cup semi-final showdown.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 2.0 / Author: NGO wordwide
Ahead of the World Cup semi-final against France, scheduled for Tuesday at AT&T Stadium, Spain head coach Luis de la Fuente shared his thoughts on the upcoming clash. Spain aim to reach their second final in history, but the manager is fully aware of the threat posed by their opponents.
De la Fuente noted that the current France side has become significantly stronger than the team Spain defeated 2-1 in the Euro 2024 semi-finals two years ago. «France is much better now than they were when we met them previously. Individually, they have grown. Kylian Mbappé is better, Ousmane Dembélé is better. As a team they are better, but we have also improved,» the coach emphasized.
Both teams have posted phenomenal stats this tournament. France have scored 16 goals and conceded only twice in six matches. Spain have scored five fewer goals (11), but their defense has been near-impenetrable, conceding only once all tournament — against Belgium in the quarter-finals — while keeping clean sheets for their first 650 minutes.
We must be disciplined and intelligent in both penalty areas. We cannot give the opponent easy opportunities. Luis de la Fuente
Regarding tactics, the coach stressed the importance of neutralizing the opponent's stars and disrupting their connections on the pitch. With Spain and France ranked 3rd and 1st in the FIFA rankings respectively, de la Fuente agreed that this match carries the weight of a final.
The winner of this tie will face Argentina or England in the final, which takes place on July 19 in East Rutherford. The semi-final will be officiated by Salvadoran referee Barton.