Portugal have become the first nation to win the UEFA Nations League twice, overcoming Spain in a penalty shootout after the match ended 2-2 following regular and extra time. It was a disappointing result for Luis de la Fuente`s Spanish national team.
De la Fuente reflected on the game in his press conference: “I am proud of my players. The journey towards our main goal, the World Cup, begins on September 4th. We must focus on the next objective. We have a team that is still growing and needs to continue on this path. As long as I am the coach, our approach and philosophy will remain consistent.”
Explaining the substitution of Lamine Yamal, he said: “It was to bring more energy into the match, and it achieved that. Lamine is tired; he is only 17 years old and has endured a very demanding season. We needed to increase the tempo, and today was the appropriate moment to choose a different player.”
Regarding Lamine Yamal`s potential, de la Fuente commented: “He has won everything with his club – La Liga and the Copa del Rey – and the Euros with Spain (referencing youth and potential achievements). For me, he possesses all the necessary qualities to win the Ballon d`Or.”
Addressing Alvaro Morata`s missed penalty, the coach stated: “All the designated penalty takers are of very high quality. If Morata made a mistake, it is because he had the courage to step up and take it. Morata is a champion and a role model for us. I deeply regret that he was the one who missed, but I am the one responsible because I was the one who asked him to take it.”
On the defeat despite positive statistics, de la Fuente noted: “We previously beat France with less possession, and today we lost against Portugal with more possession… these are the ironies of football. Perhaps we lacked a bit of precision. We did many things well, but in elite football, the small details are crucial. Nevertheless, I am proud of these players.”
