In the press conference before the 2026 World Cup final, the Spanish strategist began with a humorous answer when asked what worried him before the match.
I'm just worried because after the press conference I have to return to the hotel by helicopter. Besides that, I'm very calm. What we want is to enjoy the final," de la Fuente said.
This statement is similar to the previous sharing of coach Lionel Scaloni when the Argentine coach said that the only thing he was most concerned about was the bus carrying the team leaving the hotel.
Assessing the final match, Mr. de la Fuente said that participating in the final match of the World Cup was already a great success.
Getting into the World Cup final is already a luxury. We certainly want to win, but we will also enjoy every moment. Argentina is a big opponent with an impressive history," he emphasized.
The Spanish coach assessed that the confrontation between the two teams will be a top performance of world football as both possess many players capable of making a difference.
Regarding the force situation, he confirmed that Lamine Yamal and Pedro Porro have both recovered after the clashes in the semi-finals and are ready to play.
Yamal will be in the best condition. He has had to endure many strong tackles but has recovered well. Yesterday we gave him a break and today he is training normally," he said.
Commenting on the 19-year-old young talent, coach de la Fuente affirmed that Yamal is developing very quickly but Lionel Messi is still a special case.
Yamal is Yamal, and Messi is unique. He is a role model of attitude, behavior and what he has shown at this World Cup is extraordinary," the Spanish strategist said.
Sharing about the secret to bringing Spain to the World Cup final right after winning EURO 2024, Mr. de la Fuente said success came from perseverance.
The secret is to work, work and continue working. Even if things don't go as planned, you still have to continue and always accompany good players and partners," he said.
Notably, when asked about the plan to deal with Messi, the 65-year-old coach recounted memories of facing the Argentine superstar when he was still leading the Sevilla youth team.
At that time, we sent people to mark Messi. Around the 70th minute, I replaced the player marking him. Just a few minutes later, Messi scored 4 goals in a row and we lost the match," he recalled.
However, he affirmed that Spain will not apply individual marking tactics in the final.
We will not mark Messi. But Argentina will also have to closely follow the Spanish players," he emphasized.
Regarding opinions that Argentina often plays fiercely and uses many tricks, coach de la Fuente expressed respect for the opponent.
I admire the Argentine team very much. They have made history and are led by a friend of mine. Each team will use their football weapons, but above all, this is still just a football match," he affirmed.
