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Spain Coach De la Fuente Shifts Focus to 2026 World Cup After Painful Final Loss

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Spain coach Luis de la Fuente says the team is now targeting the 2026 World Cup.

Spain’s head coach Luis de la Fuente says his players are already putting their Nations League heartbreak behind them as they now turn their energy toward the 2026 world Cup. His remarks came after Spain lost the final to Portugal in a tense penalty shootout.

Tough Night Ends in Shootout Defeat

Despite leading the game twice in normal time, Spain couldn’t hold off Portugal’s fightback and ended up tied at 2-2. The match was settled through penalties, where Portugal came out 5-3 winners. Álvaro Morata’s missed spot-kick proved costly as Rúben Neves scored the decider.

De la Fuente Confident and Proud

Speaking after the match, De la Fuente remained optimistic. “Our thoughts are already on the World Cup,” he said. He praised the team’s commitment and togetherness, insisting Spain will continue pushing for titles on the global stage.

Performance Worth Praising

Although the result was disappointing, the coach was quick to express pride in his players. The defeat marked Spain’s first competitive loss since March 2023, showing just how far they’ve come since their Euro 2024 qualification campaign.

Young Stars Shine Again

Spain went into the final with momentum, having won both the Nations League in 2023 and the Euro 2024 title. The squad’s youthful talent stood out once again. However, the team clearly missed Pedri’s influence in the closing minutes after the midfielder was subbed off.

Credit to Portugal and Respect for Morata

De la Fuente admitted Portugal played a solid game and deserved credit. He also stood behind Morata, calling him “a real leader” despite his missed penalty. “It’s never easy to step up at such a moment. He had the courage,” said the coach.

Focus Now Shifts to World Cup Preparations

With the Nations League now behind them, the Spanish team is expected to begin preparing for the World Cup qualifiers. De la Fuente believes his team has the quality and spirit needed to make a deep run when 2026 arrives.

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