Spain are 90 minutes away from a World Cup semi-final, and a date with history. Luis de la Fuente's side face Belgium in the quarter-finals on Friday, aiming to become only the fourth team ever to hold both the World Cup and European Championship crowns simultaneously — after Spain's golden generation of 2010, France in 2000 and West Germany in 1974. They have not lost a match in 35 games under De la Fuente, who has built a team that combines possession football with an almost missionary belief in the power of good people.
De la Fuente took over as Spain manager in January 2023, winning the European Championship in 2024 and losing just three matches since. His style is defined as "controlling possession but with alternatives", but the real secret, he says, is culture. "Those of us who have been in a locker room know what it means to be a good person," he told the BBC before the Belgium game. "Almost every squad has had the opposite, the player who disrupts harmony, who puts himself first." For De la Fuente, talent without generosity is not enough. His Spain is built on players who are "generous, supportive, selfless, disciplined, and willing to sacrifice for the collective".
“Spain's World Cup run under Luis de la Fuente, explained: their style, success, and what makes them special.”
This philosophy is the product of decades within the Spanish federation. De la Fuente has coached in the system since 2013, shaping players and instilling values. He has played a crucial part in building a collective identity that is now unmistakable. National teams don't have time to build the complexity of club sides, so the message has to be simple and repeated. Spain's advantage is that their footballing identity has been developed over decades, and players and coaches are selected because they fit it. It is a system that values understanding the game collectively — passing, possession, positional intelligence are technical and social qualities.
For UK readers, this offers a sharp contrast to England's own national team project. England have often struggled to define a consistent identity, chopping and changing managers and styles. Spain's success under De la Fuente shows what can happen when a federation backs a long-term vision, from youth level to the senior team. It also shows that a manager who focuses on "people" rather than just tactics can still win at the highest level. As England prepare for their own World Cup quarter-final against Norway, the lesson is clear: a clear idea, repeated relentlessly, can make up for the lack of club-side training time.
Q: What is Spain's playing style under Luis de la Fuente? De la Fuente's Spain control possession but have alternatives — they can keep the ball patiently, but also move it quickly when opportunities arise. The core is a collective understanding of the game, built on players who are generous and disciplined.
Q: How many games have Spain lost under De la Fuente? Spain have lost just three times since De la Fuente took over in January 2023. As of July 2026, they are on a 35-match unbeaten run, including winning Euro 2024.
Q: Why is Zeno Debast not playing for Belgium against Spain? Belgian defender Zeno Debast has been prevented from playing by his club, Sporting Lisbon, who say he is not medically fit. The Belgian FA and FIFA's medical authorities disagree, but Debast cannot feature in the quarter-final.
What happens next depends on Friday's result. If Spain beat Belgium, they will face France in the semi-finals. That would put them two wins away from achieving their historic double. For Belgium, the disruption over Debast adds to a tournament that has already seen them lose midfielder Amadou Onana to injury. The World Cup continues with quarter-finals across the weekend, and De la Fuente's Spain remain the team to beat.