Spain beat Belgium 2-1 in a thrilling FIFA World Cup quarter-final clash, returning to the World Cup semi-finals after a 16-year absence. The team will face France next Tuesday for a spot in the final. After the match, Spain head coach Luis de la Fuente spoke in an interview with DAZN and praised his side’s outstanding performance. “We must maintain this level at the World Cup. We have to recognize how difficult winning these games is and give our team the credit they deserve,” he said.
Meriño: A Trustworthy Option
Meriño once again emerged as Spain’s hero, scoring the match-winning goal after coming off the bench. Luis de la Fuente spoke highly of the Arsenal midfielder, calling him a reliable game-changer. “It is incredible. Meriño possesses tremendous qualities; he is a player capable of thriving in any national team and any club,” de la Fuente stated. “He is perfectly tailored to our tactical philosophy and style of play. We are fortunate to have players like him, especially Meriño. We know he will always step up whenever the team needs him.”
France: A Tough Semi-Final Test
De la Fuente acknowledged that their upcoming semi-final opponent France ranks among the best teams at this World Cup. Despite the enormous challenge ahead, he stressed that Spain have earned the confidence to compete. “Naturally, we fully believe we can beat France, and that belief is reasonable and justified,” he affirmed. The La Rioja-born coach issued a warning to France while highlighting Spain’s strength. “I think they will be just as worried about us,” he added, concluding: “Two great teams are set to face each other.”
De la Fuente also cited a key statistic to back his team’s credentials. “It is no coincidence. We are the only side in the world capable of defeating France twice consecutively, and we have done it,” he noted, while emphasizing that the upcoming semi-final encounter against France will be entirely different from previous meetings.
