De la Fuente: "There is No Team Superior to Us"
Luis de la Fuente, the Spanish national team coach, was ecstatic after securing passage to the Round of 16 in Euro 2024 with an impressive display against Italy (1-0) and declared that "there is no superior team."
"I am proud of the result, of beating the reigning European champions, a great team, and of the manner in which we won and everything we offered. The opponents will be more competitive in the knockout stages, and as they get to know us, it becomes very difficult, but I am convinced that there is no team superior to us. As long as we continue working as we are and with humility," he said in a press conference.
De la Fuente acknowledged that the match against Italy "was the best game" he has managed with the Spanish national team and he praised his players.
"It was the best game of the 17 that I have managed, also due to the setting and the impact. We had already played against Italy in the Nations League, but today was more complete. I never tire of championing Spanish football because it is the best in the world in interpreting many aspects of the game. This must be endorsed with titles, but we must recognize the importance of these magnificent players, who are the best," he said.
De la Fuente downplayed a verbal confrontation on the sidelines with Spalletti, the Italian coach. "These are football things, a moment of heat, but nothing happens and it stays there. All my respect to Spalletti."
He praised Spain's comprehensive performance in the match. "There was more than just physicality; there was technical and tactical prowess, superiority in all footballing aspects. We were superior, and we must appreciate how difficult it is to face a great team like Italy, who were minimized by our effectiveness. We have great chances to continue improving while keeping our feet on the ground," he stated.
Finally, De la Fuente sees no limit to his team's growth and spoke about the possibility of nurturing the dream of becoming champions in Germany.
"We can do better; the ceiling of this team is the only thing I do not know because I see no limits in these players. They have a very significant potential for growth, they never tire of improving, they are hard workers, they believe in what we tell them, they trust us because we help them win, and I have blind confidence that they will not stop until they achieve everyone's dream," he concluded.
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