Luis de la Fuente dismissed the notion of favorites, saying “favorites are for the bookmakers,” as he sought to manage expectations for his Spanish team ahead of the European Championship final.
Spain has dazzled throughout Euro 2024, defeating Croatia, Italy, Germany, and France en route to their showdown with England in Berlin. Despite this impressive run, De la Fuente emphasized that the final would be a contest between equals, cautioning that their winning streak could end “at any time.”
“We remain calm and grounded,” De la Fuente stated. “While external analysis may favor us, we maintain our own perspective, knowing there is no true favorite. The game will be very balanced, as were our previous matches. We leave the concept of favorites to the bookmakers.
“If we don’t exceed our current performance level and stay fully concentrated, we won’t be able to win. These matches hinge on the smallest details, and the team that makes fewer mistakes will prevail. Without that, we won’t succeed. But I have confidence in my team. We approach this with maximum respect for our opponent and a strong focus on victory.”
Regarding Spain’s six-match winning streak, De la Fuente likened it to a goal-scoring run by a striker, which can end at any moment. “We are aware of England’s immense footballing potential. Their best play could emerge at any time, possibly tomorrow, presenting a superior version of themselves. Even if you play worse than your opponent, you can still win because anything can happen. It’s about minimizing mistakes, creating opportunities, and capitalizing on them.”
De la Fuente has surprised many in Spain with his team’s on-field success, having spent a decade coaching Spain’s under-19 and under-21 teams. While he refrained from making predictions about his youthful squad’s future success, he expressed strong belief in their talent, regardless of the outcome in Berlin.
“There is no future; the future is now. I am incredibly proud of the journey this team has taken to get here,” he said. “The performance levels, excitement, work ethic, sacrifice, and talent have all been remarkable. This team earned their achievements on their own. We have every right to be proud of what we’ve accomplished. It’s a significant present and a promising future, and it’s wonderful to see the entire country so excited, no matter what happens next.”