Spain head coach Luis de la Fuente praised his squad as the best team in the world following a semifinal victory over France on Tuesday [1].
This victory secures Spain's place in the World Cup final [1]. The result signals a potential return to global dominance for the national team, mirroring their historic success from over a decade ago.
Spain defeated France with a score of 2-0 [2]. De la Fuente said the performance demonstrated that his players were the best team in the tournament. He said that the squad had revived the winning mentality associated with the nation's 2010 World Cup championship [1].
"We have recaptured the 2010 spirit," de la Fuente said [1].
The coach said the victory was a result of a masterclass performance against a strong opponent. He said that the French side was up against the best team in the world [3].
De la Fuente's comments highlight a shift in the team's confidence as they enter the final match. By linking the current roster to the 2010 champions, the coach is framing this generation as the successor to Spain's most successful era in international soccer [1].
“"best team in the world"”
By explicitly linking the current squad to the 2010 World Cup winners, de la Fuente is attempting to instill a legacy of championship mental strength in his players. This psychological framing suggests that Spain is no longer just competing to reach the final, but is operating with the conviction that they are the rightful favorites to win the tournament.
