Spain Reaches World Cup Semifinals for Second Time Ever

Spain has secured a place in the World Cup semifinals for only the second time in the nation's history, emulating the feat achieved by Vicente del Bosque's 2010 World Cup-winning squad. Coach Luis de la Fuente has successfully navigated the team past the quarterfinals, a hurdle that has proven insurmountable on four previous occasions.

Historically, Spain's World Cup quarterfinal exits include losses to Italy in 1934, Belgium on penalties in 1986, Italy again in 1994 (a match marked by Tassotti's infamous elbow on Luis Enrique), and a controversial defeat to South Korea in 2002 marked by questionable refereeing decisions.

Del Bosque's 2010 team eventually went on to win the tournament, securing Spain's only World Cup title with a dramatic victory over the Netherlands. That campaign saw a tense quarterfinal against Paraguay, decided by a single goal.

Under De la Fuente, who has already led Spain to victory in the 2023 Nations League and Euro 2024, the team now looks ahead to a semifinal clash with France. Should they prevail, potential opponents in the final include Argentina, Switzerland, England, or Norway. The current squad features key players such as Mikel Oyarzabal, Lamine Yamal, Álex Baena, Rodrigo Hernández, Fabián Ruiz, and Pedri González.