The semi-finals begin today following the 100th match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Two European giants, France and Spain, take to the field in the first match of their journey toward the final. Spain coach Luis de la Fuente has made clear what the team’s tactics and mentality will be as they enter the match.
Expressing his fascination with the history of the Roman Empire at the pre-match press conference, de la Fuente said, “Julius Caesar, one of the greatest conquerors in history, once said, ‘No great achievement is possible without hardship and sacrifice.’ Because of my fascination with the Roman Empire, I believe wholeheartedly in this statement of Caesar’s. It’s one of my favorite quotes, and I also tell my players to live by it. To achieve something great in life, you have to have the mentality to endure obstacles and hardships. We are fully prepared to accept any sacrifice and fight on the field.”
France is in excellent form at this year’s FIFA World Cup. Team captain Kylian Mbappe leads the race for the Golden Boot with 8 goals and 3 assists. Fellow forward Ousmane Dembele is also in great form, having already scored a hat-trick in the tournament. Michael Olise and Bradley Barcola have complemented them well. Overall, every team in the tournament is showing France a great deal of respect this time around.
However, the Spanish coach brushed off talk of France being the favorite or the stronger side heading into the semi-final. According to him, the “favorite” label carries no real weight on the field. “I’ve been saying from the beginning that who is the favorite and who isn’t does not determine the outcome of the match. Two giant teams are facing each other on the field. There’s no favorite and no extra pressure here — our only real pressure is the responsibility of representing our country,” he said.
Noting that he enjoys his work despite the pressure of a stage as demanding as the World Cup semi-final, he said, “I love my job — football is my meditation. In the World Cup matches I used to watch on TV, we are now the main characters. The most important thing is not letting the pressure of responsibility overwhelm our nerves.”
De la Fuente worked with various age-group teams under the Spanish Football Federation from 2013 to 2021 before taking charge of the national team in 2022. He has known this group of players quite well for over a decade. Reflecting on his long journey with the current team, he said the entire squad is eager to complete their journey by finally winning the elusive title.
Speaking in an emotional tone, the Spanish coach said, “Looking back, I feel very proud of this long journey. We always said we would complete this cycle, and becoming world champions would be the golden crown of that journey. The task is incredibly difficult, yet I keep asking myself — what if we really could win the world title this time?”
The semi-final match between France and Spain will kick off at 1:00 am Bangladesh time today. The winner will face either England or Argentina in the final.
