De la Fuente not satisfied after the World Cup: we've not done enough | OneFootball

Luis de la Fuente already has his sights set on the next challenge. Just two months after winning the World Cup and adding Spain’s second star, the national team coach appeared before the media this Friday to assess his first squad list since the triumph in the United States. And his message was clear: the title is already part of the past.

The coach from La Rioja pointed to a conversation he had with one of his players just one or two minutes after being crowned world champions. “So now, what do we still have left to win?” the player asked him. De la Fuente’s reply perfectly sums up the mindset with which he is approaching this new stage: “Well, September 26 against England.”

The champion is already thinking about England

De la Fuente understands that the demands will be even greater after the World Cup. “What we’ve already done is not enough for us,” said the coach, who believes that ambition is part of the group’s culture. Spain will make its debut as world champion against England at Wembley on September 26, before facing Croatia and the Czech Republic in this first Nations League window.

The coach also wanted to put into context how difficult it is to repeat major successes. “In life it’s very hard to win, and you lose much more than you win, and even more so in sport,” he explained. That is why he believes Spain must compete to win again, while being aware that every opponent will now have special motivation against the world champion: “We know we’re the team to beat.”

The squad list keeps much of the core that won the World Cup, although it includes four significant new additions. Josep Martínez comes in for the injured Joan García, while Roberto Fernández receives his first call-up after a start to the season in which he has scored six goals. In addition, Dean Huijsen and Fermín López return.

De la Fuente defended the continuity of the world champions and, at the same time, the competition to earn a place in the national team. “Knocking on the door is not enough,” he explained in one of the reflections from the press conference, before stressing that the new internationals have to make the most of their opportunities to show they can stay with the group.

A strong message about Ceuta

Current events also led the coach to speak about Ceuta. De la Fuente once again showed his support for the autonomous city and delivered one of the most personal lines of the press conference: “Today I feel more caballa and more ceutí than yesterday”. The coach had already taken the World Cup trophy to Ceuta for the squad announcement.

In addition, De la Fuente gave his view on the venue for the 2030 World Cup final, which will be hosted by Spain, Portugal and Morocco. His wish is for the decisive match to be played on Spanish soil: “My opinion is that the final should be played in Spain”. The coach believes the country has the infrastructure, stadiums and sufficient capacity to host the match.

De la Fuente wants a Spanish Ballon d’Or

Another of the main topics was the Ballon d’Or. The coach did not want to publicly choose one specific name, but he did make it clear that he would prefer the award to end up in the hands of a Spanish footballer.

“I’d give it to a Spaniard,” said De la Fuente, who believes Spanish players have done enough to win the prestigious award. He also highlighted the presence of three Spanish goalkeepers among the candidates and placed particular value on Unai Simón’s performances during the World Cup.

His contract renewal was another topic that came up during the press conference. De la Fuente avoided announcing any news and left the decision in the hands of the Federation, although he acknowledged that both parties are “happy” and “delighted to continue.”

The coach also questioned the new Nations League format. “Honestly, I don’t like it, I prefer the previous format,” he admitted, referring to a first window that will force Spain to play four matches in just a few days, with travel and little time to recover.

Spain, therefore, begins a new era with the second star still fresh on the shirt, but with a message that leaves no room for relaxation. De la Fuente has already pointed to the next objective, and the first big test is marked in red on the calendar: Wembley and an England side that will welcome the world champion.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇪🇸 here.