De la Fuente backs Spain to beat France in open World Cup semifinal
De la Fuente called Spain-France “abiertísimo” in Dallas, after Spain's 2-1 win over Belgium and a recent 4-1 edge over the French in knockout play.
Y si sí became Luis de la Fuente’s message as Spain reached the World Cup semifinal in Dallas, where the coach framed Tuesday’s meeting with France as an “abiertísimo” match and said his side can beat anyone. The optimism came after Spain’s 2-1 quarterfinal win over Belgium, the result that pushed the Selección española into a showdown at AT&T Stadium that carried both immediate pressure and a heavy historical load.
De la Fuente did not hide the challenge of facing a French side that has also arrived with a strong tournament profile, but he pushed back against any sense of fear. He said France “está preocupada” and reminded Spain’s camp that it had already beaten the French twice in recent knockout ties, in the Euro semifinal and the Nations League semifinal. FIFA’s record of his previous meetings with France in the last rounds of finals backs up the confidence, showing this as his sixth duel against the side and a 4-1 record in those knockout contests.
The Spanish coach also gave the semifinal extra weight by placing it inside the country’s history. By taking Spain to the last four, De la Fuente became only the third Spanish manager to reach a World Cup semifinal, after Guillermo Eizaguirre in 1950 and Vicente del Bosque in 2010. That alone made the run to Dallas a milestone for a coach who has been tied to the Real Federación Española de Fútbol’s national-team structure since 2013.
De la Fuente’s words carried a more personal register as well. In earlier interviews he has described himself as a man of faith and said he makes decisions “con la ayuda de Dios,” a belief that helps explain the spiritual tone around his public image. His devotion to the Cristo del Cachorro of Sevilla has also been noted in Spanish coverage, and he folded in memories of his late parents and siblings as he spoke to the squad’s emotional state.
Spain’s pathway to this stage has leaned on players such as Mikel Merino and Fabián Ruiz, who have become central figures in the campaign. De la Fuente, born in Haro on June 21, 1961, has built the team’s semifinal push on that mix of belief, continuity and results, with France now the latest test of whether the confidence matches the moment.
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