Reflecting on the performance that secured Spain's ticket to the World Cup final, De la Fuente expressed immense pride in the tactical and physical development of his squad. He emphasised that the victory over the 2018 world champions was not down to luck, but rather a reflection of the deep-rooted talent within the Spanish footballing system and the work ethic of his current group of players.
He said: "I'm surprised by what this team is capable of, and the room for improvement is endless. This isn't by chance: it's talent, hard work, sacrifice, perseverance, and we knew we had to keep improving little by little throughout the tournament. We would have liked to win the first match, because we would have broken another record, but we're in fantastic form, both in terms of our football and our physical condition."