Spain's victory a triumph for Luis de la Fuente and players he's known half their lives

ARLINGTON, Texas - Spain's 2-0 victory over France in Tuesday's World Cup semifinal at Dallas Stadium did more than secure a place in the final - it reaffirmed the quiet, steady force behind this team's rise.

Luis de la Fuente, the manager who has shaped the core of Spain's golden generation since the players were teenagers, walked off the touchline surrounded by players he has known for half their lives. He celebrated with the same young men he once coached in empty training grounds and modest stadiums across Europe.

Many of the stars who define Spain's 2026 roster - Lamine Yamal, Gavi, Pedri, Álex Baena, Dani Olmo, Mikel Merino, Pedro Porro, Fabián Ruiz and Rodri - first learned his methods long before they reached the senior team.

Tuesday's triumph felt less like a breakthrough and more like the latest chapter in a story that began when they were still growing into their bodies, their confidence and their understanding of what it means to wear Spain's crest.

"It's hard for me to describe what I'm feeling in this moment," an emotional de la Fuente said after the match. "I feel very proud to be able to coach such a talented group of players."

Spain's victory was a master class in defensive brilliance, shutting down a French attack engineered to score in every match. Until Tuesday's semifinal, France had found the net in 19 consecutive games, a streak that underscored the firepower of its front line.

But neither Kylian Mbappé, nor Ousmane Dembélé, nor Michael Olise could break through the Spanish wall - a back line that has conceded only one goal the entire tournament.

The match opened with both defenses absorbing pressure and snuffing out early threats, until the 19th minute, when the gifted Lamine Yamal slipped into the French box in pursuit of a loose ball. Just as he moved to take control, defender Lucas Digne cut him down with a heavy kick.

Referee Iván Barton immediately pointed to the spot. Mikel Oyarzabal stepped up and buried the penalty with a powerful shot tucked against the left post, marking the first time France trailed in this tournament.

"Being here, in this moment, is incredible," Oyarzabal said after the match. "It's something you dream about as a kid, something you never imagine could actually happen."

In recent days, the forward had pushed back against the negative sentiment coming from the press in his home country about Spain's chances against France. Time proved him right.

"I said what I said because it was truly how I felt," he said. "For us, the most important thing was keeping a positive mind-set so we could take this huge step and be here today."

Spain's second goal came from an electrifying three‑touch sequence. Porro slipped the ball to Olmo just outside the box, who returned it with a sharp one‑touch, and Porro unleashed a thunderous strike that beat France goalkeeper Mike Maignan in the 58th minute.

"We played a great match against a very difficult team, and all my teammates did an excellent job," Porro said after the match. "Not even in my best dreams could I have imagined something like this."

On Sunday, Spain will play the final in New Jersey against the winner of Argentina vs. England. La Roja will be chasing its second World Cup title, having first lifted the trophy in 2010.

A father figure

De la Fuente's relationship with this generation of players stretches back more than a decade. As manager of Spain's U‑19 and U‑20 squads, he oversaw the development of players who became the backbone of the 2026 World Cup roster.

His youth teams won the 2015 and 2019 UEFA U‑19 Championships and the 2021 U‑21 European Championship - tournaments where several of today's stars first flourished under his guidance.

Those early years forged a bond that goes deeper than tactics or training sessions.

Players often describe de la Fuente as a paternal figure - someone who taught them how to press, pass and possess and also how to carry themselves as professionals, endure setbacks and believe in their potential.

"For many of us, Luis is like a father," Spain midfielder Baena said Monday during a prematch news conference.

Baena, 24, described de la Fuente as an intuitive coach who understands younger generations and has the communication skills to reach players.

"Luis always gives us that calm, that confidence we need in every moment," Baena said. "And I think we're all very, very proud and happy that he's here with us."

De la Fuente is known for conversations that are as much about life as football, players say, and for expressing his belief in them through a simple phrase he often repeats: "You are very good. You are the best in the world."

It was a mantra he used with teenagers trying to find their place in elite football. Today, he still says it, only now, the words echo on the sport's biggest stage.

De la Fuente has guided these players through adolescence, injuries and the pressure of becoming stars. He knows their families, their temperaments, their insecurities. He knows when to push and when to protect.

"[De la Fuente] is a very important figure within the group, especially because he involves you in every part of the preparation for a match," Porro said Monday.

The 26-year-old right back said one of de la Fuente's greatest strengths is making every player feel valued and essential.

"The míster has always told us we're a family," Porro said. "For me, he's someone who has always given me enormous confidence, and that says a lot about who he is."

In a news conference before the match against France, de la Fuente offered a glimpse into the man behind the tactics.

He described himself as a romantic who finds comfort in the songs of Julio Iglesias and as a person of deep religious conviction who begins each morning with a prayer of gratitude for the gift of another day.

"I am a grateful man," he said. "Grateful for everything I have, and grateful to be privileged enough to spend my life doing what I love."

De la Fuente - who took over the senior national team in 2022 - said winning matches matters, but building relationships matters more.

"I feel proud and nostalgic at the same time," de la Fuente said. "They have gone through different stages and achieved their goals. I'm privileged to have advanced in my career alongside them. We don't want this cycle to end at this World Cup. We want to remain competitive for many more years."

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This story was originally published July 14, 2026 at 6:49 PM.