Spain's Coach De la Fuente Prepares for France Clash

Spain's coach Luis de la Fuente characterized the FIFA World Cup semi-final clash against France as a "final before the final." Spain reached the semi-finals after defeating Belgium 2-1. De la Fuente acknowledged the quality of the 2018 World Champions, France, and expressed confidence in his team's ability to progress.

He emphasized Spain's belief in their potential and highlighted the importance of their squad's quality. De la Fuente reserved special praise for Mikel Merino, who scored the decisive goal against Belgium, noting his versatility and tactical fit within the team.

He remarked on Merino's ability to play multiple positions, which adds valuable options to the squad. De la Fuente's comments reflect a strong belief in Spain's capability to overcome France, recalling previous knockout successes against them.