The Dallas Stadium was still buzzing with the echoes of celebrating Spanish fans when Luis de la Fuente walked into his post-match press conference on July 14, 2026. He didn't look like a man who had just stressed himself through a high-stakes World Cup semifinal. He looked calm. He looked satisfied. Behind him, Spain had just systematically dismantled a terrifying French team 2-0 to book their ticket to the 2026 World Cup final.
If you watched the match, you know the scoreline doesn't even tell the whole story. This wasn't a lucky escape or a smash-and-grab victory. It was a masterclass in control, tactical discipline, and psychological dominance. France, the pre-tournament heavyweights packed with Mbappe, Dembele, and Olise, looked completely lost. They didn't manage a single shot on target until the clock ticked past the 80th minute. Let that sink in.
After the final whistle, De la Fuente dropped a quote that set the football world on fire. He declared that his squad has officially recaptured the spirit of Spain's legendary 2010 World Cup-winning side.
He's not exaggerating. This current La Roja team has finally found the missing ingredient that eluded Spanish squads for over a decade. It's not just about passing the ball anymore. It's about a shared obsession with the collective good.
The tactical framework that silenced Mbappe
Everyone knew the French attack was supposed to be the great terror of this tournament. They had racked up 16 goals before this semifinal. Yet, when they ran out on the Texas grass, they looked completely toothless.
De la Fuente set Spain up in a highly fluid 4-1-2-3 formation. On paper, it looks standard. In practice, it was a suffocating web. Spain didn't just hoard possession for the sake of it, a bad habit that plagued their post-2012 tournament runs. Instead, they used possession as a defensive tool, forcing France to spend energy chasing shadows.
Simón
Porro Cubarsí Laporte Cucurella
Rodri
Dani Olmo Fabián Ruiz
Lamine Yamal Oyarzabal Álex Baena
Rodri operated as the anchor, effortlessly dictating the tempo and snuffing out French transition attempts before they could even start. Whenever Kylian Mbappe tried to cut inside from the left, he didn't just find Pedro Porro waiting for him. He found a collapsing block of red shirts. Pau Cubarsí, at just 19 years old, played with the cold-blooded composure of a veteran, tracking French runs and stepping up to intercept vertical passes with flawless timing.
The breakthrough came early. In the 22nd minute, Spain earned a penalty. Mikel Oyarzabal stepped up, cool as you like, and sent Mike Maignan the wrong way. It was a massive psychological blow to a French side that already looked frustrated.
Instead of sitting back to defend the lead, Spain kept probing. Just before the hour mark, Pedro Porro found himself in space and unleashed a brilliant strike to make it 2-0. The stadium erupted. France tried to throw on substitutes like Marcus Thuram and Rayan Cherki, but Spain’s defensive discipline was unbreakable. The French giants were thoroughly beaten, outthought, and outworked.
Egos left at the Dallas gates
To understand why De la Fuente is drawing comparisons to the class of 2010, you have to look beyond the tactical board. You have to look at the culture.
Modern international football is often a battleground of massive egos. We've seen tournament after tournament where incredibly talented squads fall apart because players are more interested in their personal brands than the badge on their chest.
De la Fuente addressed this head-on during his post-match comments. He emphasized the importance of choosing "travelling companions" wisely.
"If you make the wrong choice of travelling companions, you could end up with a problem," the manager explained. "We are ordinary, generous people who seek the common good before our own individual interests."
This isn't just standard manager speak. There's real evidence to back it up. De la Fuente pointed out a telling detail from the aftermath of the French victory. While the starting eleven were celebrating and doing media rounds, the players who didn't get a single minute on the pitch voluntarily stayed behind on the Dallas turf to train.
That doesn't happen in squads infected by jealousy. It happens when a group is totally united. When senior figures like Dani Olmo and Mikel Merino embrace their roles, whether starting or coming off the bench, it sets a standard for teenagers like Lamine Yamal and Cubarsí. The message is clear. Nobody is bigger than the team.
How this squad differs from the 2010 tiki taka pioneers
We need to address the obvious comparison. Is this team a carbon copy of Vicente del Bosque’s 2010 legends?
No. Stylistically, they are very different. And honestly, that's why this team is so incredibly dangerous.
The 2010 team, featuring the legendary midfield trio of Sergio Busquets, Xavi, and Andres Iniesta, played a brand of football that was almost hypnotic. They starved opponents of the ball, slowly passing them to death. It was beautiful, but it was also highly methodical. They famously won almost all their knockout games in South Africa by a narrow 1-0 scoreline.
This 2026 version is a different beast entirely.
- Verticality: De la Fuente's team doesn't mind playing direct. If they see an opening, they exploit it instantly.
- Winger threat: While the 2010 side often lacked true, touchline-hugging wingers, the current team uses players like Lamine Yamal and Nico Williams to stretch opponents wide and create chaotic one-on-one situations.
- Dynamic transitions: When Spain wins the ball back now, they don't always recycle it to the keeper. They look forward immediately, catching defensive lines before they can organize.
What they do share with the 2010 squad is an absolute refusal to panic. When France tried to press high in the first half, Spain didn't hoof the ball away. They trusted their technical ability, played through the pressure, and kept their shape. It's the same psychological resilience, just packaged in a much faster, more direct footballing style.
The historic unbeaten streak is no fluke
With this victory over France, Spain has matched Italy's historic record of 37 consecutive international matches unbeaten. It's a staggering achievement, especially when you consider they swept through Euro 2024 to lift the trophy along the way.
Some critics tried to write off their Euro success as a hot streak. They argued that a grueling club season would catch up to Spain's young stars by the time they reached the knockout stages in North America.
They were wrong. De la Fuente revealed that this physical and mental peak was entirely planned.
"We keep improving from one match to the next," the 65-year-old manager said. "It was all planned for us to reach these key moments in the best shape possible, and I think we are in great shape now."
By rotating his squad intelligently during the group stages and managing the minutes of key players like Rodri and Pedri, De la Fuente ensured his team had fresh legs when France started to wilt in the Texas heat. It’s a level of structural planning that separates great tournament managers from average ones.
What Spain must do to secure the crown
Spain is now exactly ninety minutes away from football immortality. They have conquered Europe, and now they stand on the precipice of conquering the world.
The job isn't finished. Whether they face a tactical showdown with Thomas Tuchel’s England or a highly emotional clash against Lionel Scaloni’s Argentina, the final will demand absolute perfection.
To get over the line, Spain needs to focus on three critical areas.
1. Maintain the high-press trigger
Against France, Spain’s front line did an exceptional job of cutting off the passing lanes to Aurélien Tchouaméni. In the final, they must replicate this intensity. If they let their opponents build possession cleanly from the back, they will face far more defensive pressure than they did in the semifinal.
2. Protect the half-spaces
While Marc Cucurella and Pedro Porro were outstanding against France, they did occasionally leave space behind them when joining the attack. A team with elite counter-attacking wingers will try to exploit those empty channels. Laporte and Cubarsí must remain highly disciplined in their lateral coverage.
3. Block out the external noise
The Spanish media is already drawing up coronation plans. King Felipe VI has already called the dressing room to offer his congratulations. The hype is reaching a fever pitch. De la Fuente's most difficult task over the next few days won't be on the training pitch; it will be keeping his players' feet firmly on the ground.
They have the talent, they have the system, and they have the spirit. Now they just have to go out and finish the job.
