“You’ve filtered these, right?” Luis de la Fuente asks, glancing at the laptop with your questions on the table in front of him, and bursting into laughter. He takes a seat on the third floor of the Cotton Bowl in Dallas, where Spain has just wrapped up training ahead of their last-16 match against Portugal. Some players are still out in the sunshine, on the same field where Bebeto rocked his baby in 1994. It’s the morning after Cape Verde’s performance against Argentina. The World Cup creates memories—images in your mind that never fade. We all have at least one.
“Because of what it means for Spain, it has to be Andrés Iniesta’s goal,” De la Fuente says. “It’s not very original, but that’s the image of the World Cup for us. I would have been at home watching it. I’ve always been really into the national team. Whenever Spain played, it was an event at my parents’ house. My parents would watch, my brothers and sisters, and people would come over to watch. That was in Haro, La Rioja. And later, as a professional, wherever the game found me, I’d watch it. I’d enjoy every World Cup game, but especially the Spain ones. There are other images of the World Cup, but that’s the most powerful one.”
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Now that we know how good Cape Verde is, should we see the first Spain game in a different context? Leo
I’m someone who, if I have to give an opinion, likes to have a lot of information first. When I don’t know something, I don’t offer an opinion. Before the tournament, I said it was going to be a historic World Cup and that people would discover many national teams that, even if they didn’t have a big name or weren’t in the media spotlight, would find their place. We’d end up recognizing how important they are. And one of those is Cape Verde. We weren’t surprised by their performance. I said that what they do, they do very well. And that’s true.
When Lamine Yamal was asked which opponent he fears the most, he said Nuno Mendes. What advice would you give Lamine for the next time he faces Nuno? Amiglobal
He’s faced him with his club and his country [Lamine has played against Mendes four times: three times for Barcelona, losing twice and winning once, and in the 2025 Nations League final, which Spain lost to Portugal on penalties]. In that development process Lamine is still going through, he knows that big games against great opponents set a marker—they’re the ones that shape and define you, showing you a path. Lamine is a competitor, and he’ll want to get that thorn out of his side from that [Nations League] game. But a lot of time has passed since then, and Lamine has grown a lot. He’s not the same player he was a year ago; he’s a different player—more mature, more confident, and he reads the games better, logically. With every stage of his development and every experience, he becomes more complete. So what would I say to him? ‘Be yourself, enjoy football, with the responsibility that comes with it, the responsibility you take on, but be yourself.’
Yamal
I’d like to know about Borja Iglesias’ role in the squad. Thanks. Hannah Darvill
Borja is a very important player. He’s someone who prepares and works hard so he’s ready whenever he’s needed. The other day, I said I was really sad because in the game against Austria, there was a moment—and I had told him this too—where I was just about to make two substitutions: Martín Zubimendi and him. But the game takes you in one direction, then another, and you can’t control it. Just then, something happened in the game that led me to make a different decision. We made a different change. But this is a group of players who are ready to compete whenever they’re needed. I’d like all of them to get an opportunity, but it’s a World Cup. They’re all very important. And Borja’s role is to help the rest of the team.A player makes the team better because he’s very good, and that pushes everyone else to improve too.
Does De la Fuente realize that millions of Garcías have fallen in love with the Cucurellas, Yamals, Oyarzabals, and Porros of La Roja?
—José García
It’s globalization. New winds are blowing. These processes bring different races, beliefs, and ideologies, and an adaptation to something new. Football reflects society. It has a role to play in integration. Football is a powerful tool for unity, a school of values. Of course, there’s an ugly side to football, but I prefer not to focus on that. The true essence of football is very positive, very good for society, and that’s what we need to hold onto. It’s an agent of integration.
What’s Luis’s favorite word in Spanish?
—Jane Black
The word I like best is “respect.” With respect as a starting point, you can build anything. The foundation of coexistence is built on respect. I read that once, and it’s true. The key word in my life is “respect.” And it’s the word I use most with the players too. Even without saying it, it shows in everything—in decisions, behavior, attitude. That’s the key word.
What’s the hardest thing about being the national team coach?
—Ethan Taylor
Selecting! Look, I always say we’re coaches, but the most important role we have—and the hardest too—is to select the players. In the end, we talk about technical and tactical concepts… well, yes, okay… we all have that foundation. You can have an idea, fine, but then you have to pick the players that best fit that idea, that best adapt. That’s the hard part. You have to choose, and the hardest thing when naming a squad is leaving out someone who could easily be here.
Does Luis think the current midfield is already—or could be—as great as the one in the 2010 World Cup final?
—Anne Butterfield
Well… they’re two great midfields. In my opinion, and I say this with the utmost respect for everyone, we have the best midfield in the world. We have two players per position who are the best. I can list them: Rodrigo, Zubimendi, Fabián, Pedri, Olmo, Merino, Fabian, Baena, Gavi, Fermín who isn’t here because of injury, etc… etc. I’ve probably left someone out, and he’ll get angry—don’t get angry. I remember you all. That was an extraordinary midfield in 2010 too, it’s true. Football changes, but I’d put us at almost the same level.
Pedri is, in my view, the greatest midfielder in the world, but he’s rarely acknowledged as such in the English media. My theory: he looks like he’s about to lose the ball, but he never does. What’s going on? How does he pull this off so often?
—Sean McNulty
Haha! Yes, yes! He’s a magician, a magician. It’s quality, talent, technical ability. I had a teacher at school who told us that the definition of technique and talent is: completing tasks of maximum difficulty without apparent effort. That’s technique. And Pedri is a master at that. He does things that are extremely difficult and makes them look easy. Very few people can do that. He plays with astonishing ease. He sees passes the rest of us don’t see. That’s something geniuses have.
What color is happiness?
—John B
Once you get old, once you reach a certain age, you see that happiness is being able to recognize what’s truly important. Happiness is color, life, health, and being able to enjoy moments with family and friends. That’s the color of happiness.
Spanish tortilla: with or without onion?
—Tim King
Without! Without onion. My mother doesn’t like onion, but at home, my dad and my brothers and sisters always…I don’t. I really don’t eat it. I got my taste from my mum. Tortilla is one of my favorite dishes, but without onion.
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Mikel Oyarzabal is likely to become a coach one day because of his vision, according to Luis de la Fuente.
Photograph: Ringo Chiu/ZUMA Press Wire/Shutterstock
Is Oyarzabal a “natural” striker or almost a false 9?
He’s a top footballer with a unique ability to read and play every position. I remember when people said there was no center forward—but there is. Maybe a different kind, but he’s there. Mikel has played as a media punta, on the right wing, and on the left wing, and he’s always played well. He understands every part of the game—the key moments in a match, the decisions he needs to make. And one day he’ll be a coach, because he sees the game so clearly.
Watching Spain dismantle Austria, I was partly reminded of Brazil’s almost rhythmic possession play from around 1982. So much so that I downloaded a bunch of Brazil matches from that era. Anyway, have you drawn inspiration from Telê Santana’s magical side?
— Abhinav Dutta
What I’ve always said is that I know my players very well, and of course my understanding of the game has evolved, but mainly because of the players. They’ve pushed us to adapt our ideas to fit their strengths. I knew I had a vision, but they made it better. You need a foundation for everything, but you realize they’re the ones who bring it to life and adjust it. You have to give them the tools to do that. In the end, it’s all about the raw material. That’s where the inspiration comes from.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here is a list of FAQs about Luis de la Fuentes statement regarding Spains midfield
BeginnerLevel Questions
1 Who is Luis de la Fuente
He is the head coach of the Spanish national football team
2 When did he say this
He said it in June 2023 after Spain won the UEFA Nations League final against Croatia
3 Why did he say Spain has the best midfield in the world
He said it to express his confidence in players like Rodri Pedri and Gavi who controlled the game and won the trophy
4 Is he being disrespectful to other teams
No He specifically said I say this with the utmost respect meaning he wasnt trying to insult other countries just praising his own players
5 Which players is he talking about
He is mainly referring to Rodri Pedri Gavi and Fabián Ruiz
AdvancedLevel Questions
6 What makes this midfield the best in his opinion
He believes it combines defensive solidity creative passing high pressing and energy and tactical intelligence They control possession and win the ball back quickly
7 Is this an objective fact or just an opinion
Its an opinion but a strong one Many analysts agree that Spains midfield depth is unmatched especially after Rodri won the Ballon dOr and PedriGavi have dominated in La Liga
8 How does this midfield compare to past Spanish midfields
Its different The old midfield focused on slow patient tikitaka This new midfield is more direct physical and aggressive in pressing while still keeping possession
9 What common problem could challenge this claim
Injuries Pedri and Gavi have suffered serious injuries and Rodri often plays a huge number of games If one is missing the balance can break
10 Can you give a practical example of why this midfield is so effective
In the 2023 Nations League final Spains midfield outpossessed and outfought Croatias worldclass midfield Modri Broz
