Spain coach De la Fuente: If we beat Belgium, we'll talk about France

Spain's coach Luis de la Fuente is keeping his team's focus squarely on their next opponent, Belgium, in the 2026 World Cup quarter-finals. Despite France's impressive victory over Morocco, De la Fuente stated that his team will not consider the French until they have secured their own passage to the semi-finals.

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We saw the France match. They were superior, they won well. They showed their footballing potential. But we are thinking only of Belgium.

"We saw the France match. They were superior, they won well. They showed their footballing potential. But we are thinking only of Belgium," De la Fuente said at a press conference in Los Angeles. "If we get past Belgium, we will talk about France all you want." He assured reporters that, professionally, France "does not exist for us."

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If we get past Belgium, we will talk about France all you want.

Turning his attention to Belgium, the Spanish strategist described them as a "very powerful" team. He acknowledged that reaching the quarter-finals means both teams are among the world's elite, calling the upcoming match "the most difficult we face." De la Fuente also noted the team's development, pointing to the confidence gained from their previous win against Portugal.

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As professionals, I guarantee you that France does not exist for us.

"One builds confidence and a more solid foundation as matches go by, and if you keep winning, you generate confidence," he explained. "The match against Portugal was important, but we were in very good form." Spain and Belgium are scheduled to play on Friday at 3:00 PM local time in Los Angeles.

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It is a very powerful team. If we are both in the quarterfinals, it is because we are among the eight best teams in the world. It is the most difficult match we face.