A flawless journey

Spain reached the final for the second time in its history, after winning in 2010. The run was solid, with an initial draw against Cape Verde (0-0), victories over Saudi Arabia (4-0) and Uruguay (1-0), and wins in the knockout stages against Austria, Portugal, Belgium, and finally France. Throughout the tournament, they barely conceded a goal and set unprecedented records with six unbeaten matches in the same World Cup and eight consecutive victories in knockout stages.

Luis de la Fuente didn't hesitate to describe his team as "invincible" and "the best in the world." The coach, visibly moved, highlighted the dedication and talent of his players: "These players deserve everything because day after day they show commitment, solidarity, and quality. What seems difficult, they make it look simple. Today was a spectacle."

Records and full confidence

The streak of 37 games without a loss equals Italy's historic record and puts Spain at the top of international soccer. In addition, the statistics against France were overwhelming, with just 0.3 xG conceded, the lowest figure in a semifinal since Brazil-Sweden in 1994. For  De la Fuente, planning was key: “We knew we had to grow game by game. We reached the decisive moment at our best."

The final in New York

The next challenge will be at the New York-New Jersey Stadium, where Spain will face the winner of the Argentina-England match. De la Fuente was open: "We don't have a preference. It would be special to face Argentina because of my friendship with Scaloni, but I'm also excited about England. We welcome anyone with open arms."

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