Spain coach De la Fuente hails world-class players after World Cup triumph

Spain has claimed the World Cup title for the second time, triumphing over Argentina 1-0 in a hard-fought extra-time final. Coach Luis de la Fuente, at 65, became the oldest to achieve this feat, capping off a remarkable period for the team that also includes the Euro 2024 title. Spain's victory extends their unbeaten run to an impressive 38 matches across all competitions, a record for European or South American teams.

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I’m so proud of this generation of footballers who have grown up with this philosophy, remained true to it, made it even better, and set an example as a team and a family – they’re excellent, world-class footballers with exceptional talent.

De la Fuente lauded his squad, describing them as "excellent, world-class footballers with exceptional talent." He emphasized their adherence to a consistent philosophy and their exemplary teamwork, calling them a "family." The coach expressed deep emotion, reflecting on the team's complete success, stating, "we’ve won everything, absolutely everything, with this generation of players."

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I’m very moved. Looking back and thinking about them, we’ve won everything, absolutely everything, with this generation of players.

The final match saw Spain dominate possession but struggle to break down a resilient Argentina for most of the game. Argentina's challenge was further complicated when Enzo Fernandez received a second yellow card, reducing them to 10 men. Despite the numerical advantage, Spain had to dig deep to secure the win.

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The match should have been decided much earlier ... but this is a World Cup final and you have to dig deep even against ten men, and we’re prepared for anything.

Ferran Torres, who scored the decisive goal, dedicated his strike to the entire nation. He shared his relief at finally delivering a winning moment for the team, especially after facing criticism for his performances during the tournament. Torres acknowledged the pressure of playing against stars like Lionel Messi but felt Spain's superior football ultimately prevailed. He attributed his strength to persevere to his faith, believing that "God gives things to those who deserve them most."

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It was a goal scored by 47 million people – it wasn’t even mine or from the 26 players’. It was destined to happen; it was meant to be a winner.