Spain coach De la Fuente frames France World Cup semi as a championship-calibre test

LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) — Spain head coach Luis de la Fuente said on Friday that his team's World Cup semi-final meeting with France amounted to what he called "a final before the final."

De la Fuente spoke after La Roja came from behind to defeat Belgium 2-1 in Friday's quarter-final in Los Angeles, with Mikel Merino scoring the decisive goal in the 88th minute. He said the Spanish side were "capable of beating any team," naming tournament favourites France and in-form forward Kylian Mbappé as opponents they still believe they can overcome.

"It's not an exaggeration to describe this match as a final before the final," De la Fuente told reporters at the post-match press conference. "We're one of the teams capable of reaching the final," he said. "From now on, we are fully focused on France."

"We're aware of their immense potential, but we also know that we're the only team to have beaten them in two semi-finals." Spain got past France in the Euro 2024 semi-finals on the way to lifting the European crown, and also won their Nations League semi-final clash in 2005.

"The match will be more open than ever," the coach said. "We will have to raise our level of play, and we're going to give everything."

"The French are in great form, and we have different playing styles," De la Fuente added. "We have the greatest respect for our opponents, but we feel capable of beating any team."