Spain head coach Luis de la Fuente insisted his belief in his squad is stronger than ever on the eve of Thursday’s Round of 32 meeting with Austria at the 2026 World Cup. Speaking ahead of the knockout clash, the coach praised the team’s collective mentality, dismissed concerns over travel and fatigue, and declared that, in his eyes, Spain remains the best team in the world despite the increasing pressure on them.

On the pressure of the knockout stage

“We’re the ones who demand the most from ourselves. It’s a process. You have to adapt to your opponents, keep improving and keep growing, and that’s exactly the path we’re on. We’ve already seen improvements in certain patterns of play since we arrived. I’m happy with what we’ve shown so far. But now there’s no margin for error.”

On building chemistry in a national team

“Players who play together at club level naturally have a better understanding of each other. That’s normal. But this is the national team. The disadvantage is the lack of time together. They’re so talented that they overcome those disadvantages and bring out their full potential. The strength of a national team is knowing how to combine all of that, and that’s our biggest strength.”

On competition for places

“These are players who are stars at their clubs, and they come here knowing that, mathematically, only 11 of the 26 can play. They’re insatiable and ambitious. But something even more important has stood out: the respect they show one another and the way they live together as a group. Everyone knows they can play. They always put the team and their teammates first. There are none of the egos you sometimes see elsewhere.”

On whether Spain is the favorite

“As the days go by, I believe in this team more and more. For me, they’re the best team in the world. This tournament is incredibly competitive. There haven’t been as many surprises as some people expected. I remain realistic and demanding, but I’m also more optimistic.”

On expectations

“We all want to live in a fantasy world, but that doesn’t exist, not even in soccer. Every team has its own strengths. The team that can master every situation is the one that gets closest to winning. Our own expectations are much higher than the ones people place on us from the outside. We’re true competitors. But when you’re facing a great opponent, everything becomes more difficult.”

On France being considered the tournament favorite

“That’s nothing new. But it doesn’t guarantee anything, even if they’re playing at a very high level. The most important date is July 19, the final. Right now, the only game that matters is tomorrow’s.”

Injury update

“Yeremy Pino’s recovery has been remarkable. Thankfully, the X-rays showed there was no fracture. Víctor is also available, although he’s been out for a while. Nico thought he had suffered another serious injury, but it’s only moderate discomfort. He won’t play tomorrow, but we’re very optimistic about his recovery.”

On Lamine Yamal’s confidence

“He’s optimistic and has complete faith in himself and his teammates. We’re fully aware of our potential. Those are very positive words.”

On Rodri and Pedri

“They’re doing very well. They’re improving and growing every day, with more confidence all the time. And let’s not forget Fabián or Zubimendi. It gives me goosebumps, even with the little hair I have left. They’re all in great shape. Whoever plays is always the right choice because they’re outstanding players.”

On travel, heat and fatigue

“Rest and recovery are crucial, but we’re not looking for excuses. I don’t deal in ‘what ifs.’ We’re fortunate to be able to experience these trips and have the recovery time we do. Our staff is doing an outstanding job taking care of the players.”

On preparing for penalties

“We practice everything. Today, yesterday... we work on every possible scenario based on what we know about our opponent. You might have a list of ideal penalty takers, but they may not all be on the field. We’ll make those decisions when the time comes.”

On Austria

“They’re a very aggressive team. It’ll be a game with lots of individual battles in attack and defense. If they sit deep, we’ll have to move the ball quickly and be clinical in tight spaces.”

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