Overview
- Luis de la Fuente told The Guardian on July 5 that Spain “have the best midfield in the world,” listing Rodri, Martín Zubimendi, Fabián Ruiz, Pedri, Dani Olmo, Mikel Merino, Álex Baena, Gavi and Fermín López as part of a group that gives the team two top players for each midfield role.
- Spain recovered from a 0-0 opening draw with Cape Verde to win their group and then beat Austria 3-0 to reach the last 16, a run coaches and analysts cite as evidence of the squad’s collective balance rather than reliance on a single star.
- Pedri has led the tournament for final-third passes with 122 and has an expected-assists figure of 1.54 for Spain, numbers analysts point to when arguing the midfield is driving La Roja’s creative edge.
- Portugal poses a strict test with midfielders like Vitinha, João Neves and Bruno Fernandes and Cristiano Ronaldo available to change a match, so Monday’s tie in Dallas is being framed as the immediate validation point for de la Fuente’s claim.
- Commentators and outlets have used the coach’s claim beyond sport to illustrate the value of depth and pipelines, noting de la Fuente’s back-to-back IFFHS coaching awards and Spain’s long-running youth system as the real drivers of sustained midfield quality.