Spain head coach, Luis de la Fuente, has shifted focus to the future, saying his team is “already thinking about the World Cup” following their dramatic UEFA Nations League final defeat to Portugal in Munich on Sunday.
The final ended 2-2 after extra time, with Portugal edging the penalty shootout 5-3. Spain had taken the lead twice, only to be pegged back each time by the Portuguese.
In the shootout, after both teams converted their opening three spot kicks, Spain’s Alvaro Morata saw his effort saved by Portugal goalkeeper Diogo Costa, and Ruben Neves stepped up to seal victory for Portugal.
Despite the heartbreak, de la Fuente maintained a positive outlook and praised the commitment of his squad.
“From this very moment we are already thinking about the next World Cup, which is our goal. With the way we approach things, we are sure to go far in the future,” he said.
“Our team is always in a position to win, there is a lot of commitment, a lot of roots. We will always be close to winning.”
The loss marked Spain’s first defeat in a competitive international since March 2023, when they fell to Scotland in a Euro 2024 qualifier.
The defeat also ended an impressive run that included winning the 2023 Nations League and this summer’s European Championship.
Spain’s youthful squad continued to show promise, but the tournament once again exposed their dependence on star midfielder Pedri.
During their thrilling 5-4 semifinal win over France, Pedri was substituted with the score at 5-1 before Spain allowed three late goals.
A similar drop in control was evident in the final after the Barcelona playmaker was taken off late in the game.
De la Fuente acknowledged the physical toll of the long season on his players and offered praise for the Portuguese side.
“Portugal have done things very well, they have players of the highest level,” he noted.
The coach also came to the defense of Morata, who missed the crucial penalty.
“I’m sorry he missed the penalty, but many players don’t want to take one. He took one and missed it, but that happens in football,” de la Fuente said.
“He’s a real champion and a benchmark for us.”
Despite the final result, de la Fuente expressed pride in his team’s performance, confident they will continue to compete at the highest level in tournaments to come.
