# De la Fuente: Spain vs. France World Cup Clash 'A Final Before the Final'

*Spain's coach Luis de la Fuente has described the upcoming World Cup semi-final against France as 'a final before the final'.*

July 11, 2026 · Sports

## At a glance

- Luis de la Fuente describes Spain v France as 'a final before the final'.
- Spain defeated France in two previous semi-finals.
- De la Fuente confident in Spain's ability to beat any team.

Spain's coach Luis de la Fuente has described the upcoming World Cup semi-final against France as 'a final before the final'. Speaking after Spain's 2-1 victory over Belgium in the quarter-finals, de la Fuente expressed confidence in his team's ability to overcome tournament favorites France and their star forward Kylian Mbappe.

## High Stakes Ahead

De la Fuente emphasized the significance of the match, stating, 'It's not an exaggeration to describe this match as a final before the final.' He believes Spain is one of the teams capable of reaching the final and is now fully focused on France.

## Historical Edge

Spain holds a historical edge over France, having defeated them in two previous semi-finals—the Euro 2024 semi-finals en route to becoming European champions and the 2005 Nations League semi-finals. De la Fuente acknowledged France's immense potential but remains confident in his team's capabilities.

## Different Playing Styles

The coach highlighted the contrasting playing styles between the two teams, suggesting the match will be more open than ever. 'We will have to raise our level of play, and we're going to give everything,' de la Fuente said. 'The French are in great form, and we have different playing styles.'

## Respect and Confidence

Despite the respect Spain has for their opponents, de la Fuente reiterated his team's confidence. 'We have the greatest respect for our opponents, but we feel capable of beating any team,' he concluded.

## Sources

- BSS

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Source: https://pulsetoday.com.bd/en/sports/spain-france-world-cup-semi-final-de-la-fuente