Spain head coach Luis de la Fuente has declared his side fully prepared to face tournament favourites France in the FIFA World Cup 2026 semifinals, following a hard-fought 2-1 quarterfinal victory over Belgium in California. Speaking after the match, De la Fuente emphasised that every contest presents a unique challenge and expressed confidence in his squad's depth.
De la Fuente Acknowledges France's Quality
"Every duel is different and every match is a new challenge. We know what they can bring to the table," De la Fuente said, referring to France. He defended players with fewer minutes, stating, "It's unfair to judge the players who have had fewer minutes, because they are just as good as those who are playing."
The Spain boss praised the unity and character within his squad, attributing their success to mutual respect. "This group is an example of respect; everything is built from there. We are fortunate to have excellent players and even better people. When I look at the bench, I feel very calm," he added.
Merino Praised as 'Super Mega Player'
De la Fuente highlighted Spain's fighting spirit and singled out midfielder Mikel Merino, who scored the winning goal after coming off the bench. "Spain is a team that has heart. That's what drives us. Mikel Merino is a player who does everything well and also has an attitude toward life of commitment, of solidarity. He is a super mega player," the coach said.
The Spanish manager also expressed gratitude to his coaching staff and support team. "I feel grateful to all the people who are with me and to my entire technical staff. I couldn't achieve any of this alone. I'm surrounded by a great team that accompanies me at all times," he stated.
Match Summary: Spain 2-1 Belgium
In the quarterfinal, Fabian Ruiz, who started ahead of Pedri, opened the scoring after Belgian goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois parried Dani Olmo's effort into his path. Spain continued to threaten through Lamine Yamal, whose lively display earned him the Player of the Match award.
Belgium equalised just before halftime when Kevin De Bruyne released Timothy Castagne down the right, and the defender's pinpoint cross was headed home by Charles De Ketelaere, who timed his run perfectly to stay onside. The goal ended Spain goalkeeper Unai Simon's remarkable run of 560 consecutive World Cup minutes without conceding, surpassing the previous tournament record of 517 minutes set by Italy's Walter Zenga in 1990.
Belgium suffered a major setback in the 71st minute when Courtois was forced off with an apparent injury and replaced by Senne Lammens. The substitute goalkeeper was beaten soon after when he failed to hold Pau Cubarsi's long-range effort, allowing Merino, who had only recently entered the game, to pounce on the rebound and score the winner.
Record Unbeaten Run Continues
The victory extended Spain's unbeaten run to 36 matches since their defeat to Colombia, equalling Argentina's unbeaten streak between 2019 and 2022 and leaving them just one game short of Italy's world-record 37-match unbeaten run. Spain will now face France in a highly anticipated semifinal as they continue their bid for another FIFA World Cup title.
