Spain are bidding to become just the fourth team to hold both the World Cup and European Championship crowns at the same time, following their compatriots in 2010, France in 2000 and West Germany back in 1974. Under manager Luis de la Fuente, they have lost just three matches since he took over in January 2023, and are on a run of 35 games without a defeat. On 10 July 2026, they beat Belgium 2-1 in the World Cup quarter-finals, despite a last-minute injury to Belgium's Youri Tielemans before kick-off, to set up a semi-final against France.
De la Fuente's success is the product of decades of work within the Spanish federation. He has been a coach in that system since 2013, shaping players and instilling values. His philosophy is built on a simple conviction: football is a team sport built by good people. "Those of us who have been in a locker room know what it means to be a good person," he said before the Belgium game. "Almost every squad has had the opposite, the player who disrupts harmony, who puts himself first." He defines 'good' in footballing terms—generous, supportive, selfless, disciplined, and willing to sacrifice for the collective. His Spain is built on players who give before they take.
“How Spain are closing in on greatness under Luis de la Fuente.”
Spain's style has always relied on players who understand the game collectively. The passing, possession, and positional intelligence are technical qualities but social ones too. De la Fuente's style can be defined as controlling possession but with alternatives. Alongside it he has created a culture. National teams don't have the time to build the complexity of club sides, so the message has to be simple and repeated. That is where Spain have an advantage: their footballing identity has been developed over decades.
For UK readers, Spain's approach offers a contrast to other national teams. Their identity is unmistakable, built not on individual superstars but on a collective ethos that prioritises harmony. De la Fuente, 65, has lived through enough dressing rooms to know that talent without generosity does not go far. This under-the-radar hero has crafted a team that could now achieve back-to-back major tournament triumphs, a feat only three other nations have managed.
Q: How have Spain performed under Luis de la Fuente? They have lost only three matches since January 2023, are on a 35-game unbeaten run, and won the European Championship two years ago. In the 2026 World Cup, they reached the semi-finals by beating Belgium 2-1 in the quarter-finals.
Q: What is Luis de la Fuente's coaching philosophy? He builds teams through people, not just tactics. He emphasises generosity, selflessness, and discipline, believing that talent without generosity does not go far. He repeats constantly that football is a team sport built by good people.
Q: What is Spain's playing style? They control possession but have alternatives. Their identity relies on players who understand the game collectively, with passing, positional intelligence, and a culture of sacrifice for the collective. This identity has been developed over decades within the Spanish federation.
What happens next: Spain face France in the World Cup semi-finals. If they win the tournament, they will become the fourth team to hold both the World Cup and European Championship concurrently. The match will test their unbeaten run and the strength of De la Fuente's culture-driven approach.