– says Luis de la Fuente Spain are the best team in the world after a clinical 2-0 win France sent La Roja to st World Cup for the first time since their 2010 triumph in the final.
Mikel Oyarzabal converted a penalty in the 22nd minute after Lucas Dinh fouled Lamine Yamal in the box, and Pedro Porra doubled the lead just before the hour mark.
France, who arrived in Arlington with 16 goals in the tournament and with Kylian Mbappe top scorer in eight, were limited to just 0.3 expected goals per 90 minutes.
De la Fuente, speaking after the final whistle, struggled to hold back his emotions, insisting the job was not over.
“It’s hard to describe what a person feels, but I know it’s something like happiness,” he said. “I’m very proud of each and every one of this group of players, but now we have to go on. We still have one more step to take. We’re going to try to get there.
“There’s a lot of pressure, it’s a huge responsibility and to be in a World Cup final is a luxury. It’s only for the chosen ones and the rest have to try to repeat it, not in this team, but when we started almost four years ago with an idea, a philosophy, and that’s what got us here. I’m very proud of that.”
“They make the difficult so easy”
Spain’s performance against a France side that has conceded just twice in the entire tournament was widely admired and De la Fuente was unequivocal in his assessment of where his side are among world football’s elite.
“Today we played one of the national teams in the world, but they faced the best team in the world,” he said.
“This is different. These players deserve all this because day after day they show their commitment, their generosity, their talent. It was great to see them play so impressively today. They make the difficult look so easy. Happy, proud and what calms me now is that we are starting to understand where we are.”
“It’s an honor to be Spanish”
De la Fuente, who has led the national team in 2022 and is unbeaten since losing to Colombia shortly after his appointment, also took time to address fans watching from home and around the world.
“Thank you very much for the tremendous support, commitment and strength they are sending us,” he said. “It’s an honor to be Spanish, it’s an honor to feel that you unite the whole country.”
Spain will face the winner of the second semi-final between England and Argentina in the World Cup final on July 19.
