De la Fuente says Spain have recaptured 2010 spirit after France masterclass
Spain manager Luis de la Fuente praised his team's performance after defeating France to reach the World Cup final, comparing their spirit to the 2010 championship squad. He emphasized the importance of humility and collective effort over individual egos.
Why it matters
The team's success and cultural approach to the tournament are major talking points in international sports media.
Spain manager Luis de la Fuente said his side had revived the spirit of their 2010 World Cup triumph after a commanding 2-0 win over France on Tuesday (July 14, 2026) sent them into the final and left them one victory from a second global title.
Spain, who won their first World Cup 16 years ago, neutralised a France attack that had scored 16 goals before the semi-final and had been regarded as one of the tournament’s most dangerous. France did not manage a shot on target until after the 80-minute mark.
“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 told a press conference.
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