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The Spain national team's door remains open for Morata and Carvajal.

Luis de la Fuente is currently the most discussed coach in world football after guiding Spain to World Cup glory at Argentina's expense.

La Roja lifted the trophy for the second time in their history, beating Argentina 1-0 after extra time.

In an interview with AS newspaper, De la Fuente revealed the secrets behind a side that has now won Euro 2024 and the 2026 World Cup.

“We were clearly better in the final, and they did not have a single shot on our goal,” the Spain coach said. “Even though we felt calm, football always has surprises.”

He went on: “If Cubarsi's clearance in extra time had bounced off Unai Simon and gone into the net, they could have won without a single shot on target. Thankfully, that moment was handled well.”

Then came a note of modesty. He added: “Luis de la Fuente's World Cup? That makes me feel embarrassed, but I would like to remind everyone that this is the World Cup of a great national team.”

Falling to Cape Verde, and the defensive solidity shown throughout the World Cup

When asked about the defensive strength of conceding just one goal, he said: “We faced only ten shots throughout the tournament. But that comes from having a defensive idea that was worked on and developed brilliantly, with the team defending together in an astonishing way.”

He stressed: “If we look at our numbers, we will see that we are a team that scores a lot of goals. We scored a huge number of goals, and we conceded only one, and that is something that fits us. We have more than 100 goals across 50 matches, with a very small number of goals conceded. It is a collective, generous team, with a carefully studied defensive structure.”

He never allowed doubt to enter his mind. “Did any doubt come to your mind during the World Cup? Never, not even in the first match. I do not pay attention to what is said outside, and that gives me more peace.”

He added: “After the first match against Cape Verde, we knew this was the right path. If one day you lack inspiration and the opponent has it, these things happen. The team was growing step by step, day after day, and kept getting better. The atmosphere inside the camp was also exceptional. Over 52 days, not a single problem happened. And that is extremely difficult.”

Torres' goal answers the over-the-top criticism

He explained: “The tournament starts with a starting line-up, but you also watch the impressions and the training sessions, and of course everything is open to analysis and study. We have an exceptional coaching staff that gives me wonderful information. And then I believe there is a sixth sense that helps with everything, and that is what gives you the ability to make certain decisions at specific moments.”

He insisted that everything depends on how the match develops. “You may prepare a certain plan, but the match can take you in a different direction. That can happen because of an injury, a suspension, a red card, or a goal for or against you. Football can change your plan within the first 10 minutes, but the core idea never changes, it always remains the same. We go on to the pitch carrying this idea, but the players' characteristics may give it different forms. Every player or coach also applies it in his own way.”

The players who miss out weigh heavily on him. “It hurt me a great deal to see the situation of the players who do not play. At the Euros, the only player who did not play even a single minute was Álex Remiro. I would have wanted everyone to play, because they all truly deserve to play. But I never felt there was a need or an obligation for everyone to feature. The priority is always the team's interest.”

One name stood out after the World Cup triumph. “Which player was I especially happy for after winning the World Cup? Was it different with Ferran Torres? I was very happy that Ferran scored the goal in the final, because I am someone who always tries to be fair, and when I see injustice, exaggerated and unfair criticism, sometimes even with ill intent, life gives you a chance to answer and prove yourself.”

He added that Torres has the numbers to support it. “Ferran has amazing numbers with the national team, and the same applies to his club. His goal ratio in every match is superb. He reminds me a little of Álvaro Morata. It makes me happy to see people who can respond to injustice by saying, here I am, and in Ferran's case, he deserved it because he could have given up and lowered his head, but he did not.”

Similarities between the 2010 team and the 2026 generation

He explained: “Do you feel that winning Euro 2024 was harder than winning this World Cup? They are two completely different tournaments. European football is familiar to us, and we understand it well. As for the World Cup, it forces you to adapt in different ways and to face African and South American national teams.”

“We knew how our matches against Uruguay or Argentina in the final would be,” he stressed. “That is how football is in South America. And our motto was always to play our own game. No one strayed from the plan or fell into the opponent's style, because we are not good at that kind of football. They are better than us at it, and we would have lost, perhaps by a big margin. But when the match is played in our style, we are the best.”

Yamal and Pau Cubarsi earned special praise. “People like Lamine Yamal and Pau Cubarsi are extremely special. They have exceptional maturity and intelligence. For me, they are geniuses.”

Comparisons with 2010 also came up. “The similarities between the 2010 side and this side? Football has changed a lot over the past years. We have the same model, but it has evolved, and I am not very fond of ready-made terms such as tiki-taka. I understand why it is used, but I prefer to describe it as collective or harmonious football.”

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Are some Spain players thinking about international retirement?

He explained: “No player told me he would retire after the World Cup, and after what happened I think the opposite is true. But I want to make one important thing clear: the players know that I have no obligation towards anyone.”

Speaking about individuals, he said: “For example, Alvaro Morata or Dani Carvajal, they have left an exceptional legacy, yet their chapter is not closed yet. And if they return to their level, the doors will remain open for them. We do not look at age. Jesus Navas was with us at the age of 39.”

The coach continued: “Was I able to enjoy the World Cup? And have I started thinking about the 2030 World Cup? I hope to live this experience again in four years, because what we experienced this time was unique. It was a mix of happiness and a wonderful human experience, along with the joy of an entire country sharing in this success.”

Wrapping up, he added: “As for thinking about the 2030 World Cup, I am someone who lives very much in the present. All we are thinking about now is next September. That is the most important thing for us. We always think only about the next competition.”