‘I never thought of anything like this’, says Spain’s coach de la Fuente
Spain's national football coach Luis de la Fuente praised his squad after their 1-0 victory over Argentina in the 2026 FIFA World Cup final. He credited the team's collective sacrifice and disciplined defensive strategy against Lionel Messi for the historic win.
Why it matters
This marks a significant milestone in international football, highlighting the success of a team-first philosophy over individual star power.
Luis de la Fuente hailed his players after Spain defeated Argentina 1-0 after extra-time to win the FIFA World Cup on Sunday (July 19, 2026 ), saying the triumph belonged to a generation that had embraced collective sacrifice and written its place in football history.
“I never thought of anything like this,” De la Fuente said. “I always just wanted joy in moments. When you look back at this process, I would not have achieved anything without these players. The journey with this raw material, this talent. Spanish footballers, the way they compete. These players are amazing.”
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in