I don’t think we are favourites this year, De la Fuente said after the golden triumph. What made the Spaniards European champions?

It’s home, the Spaniards might have said to themselves after their victorious final match against England. For it was the Spanish national team that reached the very top and won gold at this year’s European Championships. What did coach Luis de la Fuente have to say after this great achievement?

• Spain won this year’s European Championships
• Coach Luis de la Fuente was ecstatic after the golden triumph and praised his players
• He said the Spanish were not the main candidates for the overall championship

Although the Spanish national team was one of the teams that certainly had the chops to win this year’s European Championship, it was not exactly one of the main favourites. England, Germany, France or even Portugal were often mentioned in this context.

But the Spanish proved that team performance and tactics set accordingly is the right recipe for success. But fans appreciate this national selection for one more thing – they simply played football.

England were often criticised for their style of play during the tournament and in the end it can be said, quite objectively, that the right team won the final of this year’s Euros. Or rather, the one that should have won.

The Spaniards played great football at the Euros, winning all seven games and scoring the most goals of any team (15). Their highest win came in the eighth-final against Georgia (4: 1), and their second-highest was right at the start against Croatia (3: 0).

Coach Luis de la Fuente was thus very satisfied with his team already during the tournament. However, he only let his emotions run high after the tournament was over.

De la Fuente on the golden triumph

A year ago, the current coach of the Spanish national team still had a knife to his throat. He took the disappointing results upon himself and decided to ask for forgiveness. This was not enough for many, they wanted his sacrifice.

De la Fuente, however, had the advantage of a huge support from the cabinet. And now, after more than a year, he and the whole team could enjoy the title at the Euros. He was one of the coaches who had led Spain to the top of Europe.

José Villalonga (1964), Luis Aragonés (2008) and Vicente del Bosque (2012) did it before him. He wasn’t afraid to include the only 16-year-old Yamal in the line-up and to employ tactics that many other conservative coaches wouldn’t even think of.

“I couldn’t be happier. When I see the fans, the players… It was a wonderful day when a real team was crowned. For me, they are the best in the world, the best,” said De la Fuente after the win over England in the European Championship final, his words quoted by Marca newspaper.

“I don’t think we were the favourites. I wanted my team to be in a competitive position and we did that. I want my players to keep improving. It’s an amazing team and everyone can feel proud. They make my job so much easier,” said the Spain coach.

“I always say we have 26 amazing players. Any of them can play at any time. They proved it when we made the changes (in the Albania game). They always play at the level that is expected of them. They are the best in the world. I’ve said it before and I stand by it. And we can still be better,” he concluded.

Source: EURO 2024, Marca, Football Espaňa