De la Fuente: Yamal's level is exceptional, and England could have harmed us

Luis de la Fuente, the head coach of Spain, spoke about the thrilling victory over England (3-2) in the UEFA Nations League, confirming that his team went through moments where they lost control, but managed to regain command of the match against a rival he described as very strong.

De la Fuente said during the press conference: "We conceded England's goals at a moment of lost focus, and they could have harmed us, as we were unable to face them at that moment. But overall, the match was under control against a major force. Regarding formations with or without wingers, the substitutes also benefit. The team regained control after that, and there are many matches within the match itself. We knew how to handle all phases of the encounter, and I believe we were dominant in the confrontation against a very strong opponent like ours."

Regarding how to maintain players' desire to improve despite only 69 days having passed since winning the World Cup, he said: "This comes down to the players. We simply choose players who fit a model built for this type of person. We still have a very large margin for improvement, and there are players integrating quickly. It’s a group that goes beyond the professional side; there is a human and family relationship that drives everyone to develop and sacrifice more at any time. We have all these values, alongside a core and wonderful football talent."

Regarding Spain's achievement of 39 consecutive matches unbeaten, he added: "What this group of players is doing has great value. They never stop wanting to become better. The numbers are objective, and it is very difficult to do what Spain is doing. We will also treat the match against Croatia as if it were the last game. These players always want to continue to develop."

Regarding Erik García's injury, the Spanish coach explained: "He had a minor issue during the warm-up. When we arrive in Madrid, we will assess whether he is able to recover. It doesn't seem serious, but we also don't know if he will be ready to participate in one of the matches. At that point, we will evaluate whether another teammate should be called up to the squad."

Regarding the penalty that England received and missed by Harry Kane, and whether he felt the possibility of losing the match, De la Fuente said: "The comeback in the score started when we had three very clear chances, and if the penalty had gone in, it wouldn't have had that impact. But even if the score had become 3-1, the team would have reacted in the same way. The opponent will not always succeed in scoring, even if they have great attacking capabilities."

Spain's coach discussed Ferran Torres missing several chances before scoring, saying: "Hugo Sánchez was the top scorer in LaLiga in one season after scoring all his goals with his first touch. The important thing is that the ball goes into the net; Ferran is a scorer, but players who get many chances also miss, otherwise the goals would be endless. I am very happy with Ferran's performance, and Oyarzabal's goal also came as a result of the physical work done by his teammate. It is a collective effort, and everyone benefits from what others provide."

When asked about the development of Lamine Yamal's style and whether he has started to dribble less and pass more, De la Fuente replied: "I don't know what they are asking of him at FC Barcelona. We are trying to make the best use of him through our style, which is similar to that of Barcelona, but different. His level is exceptional, and we are fortunate to have a player like him. He plays the way the game demands, taking into account his characteristics and those of his teammates."