Recently, Spain national team coach Luis de la Fuente gave an interview, during which he talked about his feelings about participating in the World Cup draw for the first time.
How do you feel about participating in the World Cup draw for the first
time?
“Extremely excited – I feel very proud and fortunate to be part of the World Cup family. Being in such a high-level event makes me very happy. I think the standard of this draw is extremely high, and it’s an honor to be part of the World Cup community.”
You loved the national team since childhood – how did you experience the draw?
“I just came from interviews with UEFA and FIFA, talking about my childhood memories of national team games. I remember when Spain qualified for the 1978 Argentina World Cup – that’s when I started to realize the significance of football in my life. In my family, every national team game was a grand celebration. Now, being part of the World Cup spirit makes me very proud.”
Hierro once said everything looks good at the draw, but by January opponents seem stronger, and even more so as the World Cup approaches.
“I don’t need to wait until January – I can say it today! I can’t remember a World Cup with such strong participating teams. As I looked at each group, I thought: every group has powerful teams and many title contenders, which proves the high level of this World Cup.”
“It’s not just the 48 teams – many strong teams missed out due to quota restrictions, but we’ll see some excellent teams that might have otherwise been absent. Nowadays, the level of national team football around the world is extremely high.”
With more teams advancing to the knockout stages under the new format, does that increase pressure?
“As the tournament progresses, everything becomes more complicated, but that means you’re still advancing. We all want to be in situations that get harder every day – the closer we get to the final, the tougher it gets, but that’s only because we’re performing better and better. We want to feel this highest level of challenge.”
Coaches of Saudi Arabia and Cape Verde both said Spain is one of the title favorites – is that a burden or an honor?
“It’s not a burden; I feel recognized because it affirms our work so far. Being a favorite doesn’t guarantee anything. There are other equally strong favorites like France, Argentina, Brazil, England, and Portugal. Many teams are capable of winning the World Cup, and being listed among them makes me proud, especially since our results weren’t handed to us. Ranking first in the world is the result of hard work and having a generation of outstanding players.”
Saudi Arabia lost 1-0 to Uruguay in 2018 but beat Argentina in 2022.
“We’ve discussed this: at the national team level, the gap has narrowed significantly. National team football is completely different from club football – in a single game, any team can perform well or poorly. In a short tournament like the World Cup, this can cause many upsets.”
“It requires us to play at our best without making mistakes; you can’t always allow yourself a bad day. Usually, it won’t be smooth, and we’ll strive to ensure no unexpected situations occur.”
Uruguay is a small country but has a glorious football history.
“It’s unique – Uruguay has produced many excellent players and won two World Cup titles. Both as a national team and individually, it’s part of football history. Now they also have many top players. Additionally, Bielsa is an outstanding coach who can bring out the maximum potential in his players.”
You might face Argentina in March, and if things don’t go as expected, you could meet soon at the World Cup.
“First, we’ll see if the game goes ahead – a decision will be made in the next few days. Personally, I’d be happy to play it. It’s a rare opportunity to enjoy and compete for a trophy. We don’t care about what happens after the group stage right now. We’re focused on gathering information about Cape Verde, Saudi Arabia, and Uruguay, analyzing every detail, and the rest will come naturally.”
Are you worried about infrastructure, accommodation, and travel issues?
“I know we have the best support, and our travel department is experienced. I’m not worried about these issues, even though there are huge distances. We’ll try to minimize travel and choose a suitable base once we know the specific times and locations. We seek comfort and good facilities to avoid long trips, as they take a physical and mental toll.”
During the Euro in Germany, you had a fixed base.
“I hope it can be the same here – it was a paradise. Nevertheless, there were long trips back then, but now it’s a reality. Just like then, we need to set goals and achieve them: we’ll handle these distances normally.”
The injuries to Carvajal and Rodri are concerning – when will they recover?
“I worry about the players’ health, as I’ve always said. In March, April, and May, the schedule will be tighter with less recovery time. Now, if there are injuries, there’s still time. Rodri and Carvajal’s injuries are significant, and such injuries can cause problems during recovery. But there’s still a long way to go, and I believe they’ll be selected in good form.”
My mom always says: you can’t fit everyone in the squad.
“Your mother is very wise – this is the most unpleasant part of being a coach: excluding players who are fully capable of being selected. I’ve said it many times: who can be excluded? It’s the hardest part, but it also shows that Spain has many outstanding players. This is great news for Spanish football and the development work done by clubs.”
Asensio said in the media that he hopes the coach will pay attention to his performances in Turkey.
“We have a good relationship, and we talked recently. He was one of my first players, from the 1996-97 generation. He knows we’ve been watching him and many others, but getting into the national team is difficult. He’s fully capable of playing for the national team, but there are other capable players too.”
For some players, the next call-up might be their last chance, like Joan García or Carreras.
“No, because they’re players I know very well. Joan played under me in the U21s – I know what he can do, and he fits our style of play perfectly. I also know Carreras, even though he hasn’t worked with me. Whoever comes will feel natural. He knows I understand him and won’t feel uncomfortable.”
The third-choice goalkeeper role is always stressful – is it a special position for you?
“Very special. Goalkeepers form a small world within the team: they train separately, have very specific tasks, and share a different kind of unity. It’s important that they respect their roles. Managing the dressing room is crucial, and this applies to other positions too. We look for top players who can accept not playing with generosity.”
Some people say: “The best players aren’t selected.”“Maybe not for them, but they are for me. And I’m the one making the choices – I select players I think are most suitable for our needs.”
Last name: Morata – how important is he to the team, and how has he handled being less frequent in the squad recently?
“I’m glad you mentioned him. You know how important he is to us, and he will continue to be. He’s a key figure both on and off the pitch. Sometimes in the plan, we need to give opportunities to other players who need them. But he’s never truly left, even when he’s not in the squad. There’s still a long time until March. Like other players, he even has more chances because of everything he’s shown and what he represents – his door is always open.”
Are you often asked about Yamal?
“We’re talking about football – Yamal is a very important player, just like other national teams have their key players. We must have wisdom and foresight to understand what he means to us: an 18-year-old young man who needs to continue growing both personally and as a footballer. He knows he needs to improve and always has a great attitude. He wants to get better every day and help the team.”
Are you really not worried about the incident between Yamal and Carvajal?
“No, I’ll take responsibility for maintaining a healthy coexistence. I’ve spoken to both of them, and I know such things can happen in such competitive football. We must distinguish between what happens on the pitch and what it means in the national team. They understand that and can’t wait to meet and hug each other.”
