Spain under La Fuente is a team that wants to make history by becoming only the fourth team to win the European Championships and World Cup at the same time. They will join West Germany, who did it in 1974, France in 2000, and their compatriots in 2010 under Vicente del Bosque. Spain under De la Fuente have lost only three games since he took charge in 2023 and are unbeaten in 35 matches.
“Football is a Team Sport, Built by Good People”
This is the philosophy of De la Fuente: the players must be selfless, willing to sacrifice for the team, disciplined and supportive. De la Fuente believes if players have these qualities, success will come. National teams do not have time to build the complexity that club sides have. But this is where Spain has an advantage; their identity has been built over decades.
The coach and players of the national side must fit the identity and idea. This is much easier than bringing in a new coach with new ideas and changing everything. Pep Guardiola once said:
Johan Cruyff did not build the cathedral; he just repaints it from time to time.
That is exactly why the Spanish national team are reaching for their place in history.
