Luis de la Fuente Praises Spain's Near-Perfect Performance After World Cup Round of 16 Berth

Spain's national football team coach, Luis de la Fuente, lauded his squad's performance after they secured their place in the 2026 World Cup Round of 16 with a commanding 3-0 victory over Austria. De la Fuente expressed his satisfaction, stating that La Roja demonstrated the qualities of a "big team" during the match and are now prepared for tougher challenges ahead.

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Big teams will emerge when their presence is needed. I think today we have witnessed a great match.

"Big teams will emerge when their presence is needed. I think today we have witnessed a great match," De la Fuente told RTVE. The 65-year-old coach assessed his team's performance as nearly flawless, although he acknowledged that there is always room for improvement as they advance to the knockout stages. "I am happy because in all aspects we were almost perfect. But we have to keep improving. Every match now will be very difficult. In the Round of 16, the opponents are even more demanding," he added.

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I am happy because in all aspects we were almost perfect. But we have to keep improving. Every match now will be very difficult. In the Round of 16, the opponents are even more demanding.

De la Fuente emphasized the players' drive for continuous development as a key asset in their pursuit of the World Cup title. "You can always improve and that is what this team demands. These players always want more and more," he remarked. He also singled out forward Mikel Oyarzabal for his impactful performance, noting his crucial role in Spain's offensive efforts. "Oyarzabal showed the football potential he possesses, and his teammates did too. They played an outstanding match," the coach said.

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You always can improve and that is what this team demands. These players always want more and more.

Oyarzabal himself expressed gratitude for contributing to the team's advancement. He acknowledged the difficulty of the match against Austria, recognizing their opponent's strong physical presence. "I am happy to help the team and advance to the next round," Oyarzabal stated. "This match was difficult. We knew it would be difficult because they are a very physical team. But we had a very good day." Spain secured their Round of 16 berth with Oyarzabal scoring twice, and Pedro Porro adding another goal. They are set to face Portugal in their next match.

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Oyarzabal showed the football potential he possesses, and his teammates did too. They played an outstanding match.