In brief
De la Fuente says the squad is very competitive and that the criticism after the Cape Verde draw has made them more determined to produce a much better display against Saudi Arabia.
The coach confirmed he will alter the starting eleven to bring fresh attributes, possibly including Lamine Yamal, without pointing fingers at anyone who played in the opener.
Despite being Spain's best player statistically against Cape Verde, the debate continues over whether the midfielder should operate deeper or remain near the opposition box, especially if Dani Olmo enters the lineup.
A squad bruised by criticism
Luis de la Fuente appeared in the Atlanta press room wearing the team's white change strip and struck a defiant but upbeat tone. He acknowledged the frustration of a 0-0 draw with Cape Verde that, he insisted, would have drawn a different reaction had two extra goals gone in. "The team is sore and very stung by the criticism," the Spain coach said, adding that the competitive character of his players meant harsh words only sharpened their motivation.
“The team is sore and very stung by the criticism. Sometimes unjust criticism motivates even more.”
De la Fuente rejected any sense of panic, repeating "there is no drama, but now we have to win" before the match against Saudi Arabia. He claimed the squad had been buoyed by messages of support from Spain and was anxious to recover the sensations that existed before the Cape Verde fixture five days ago.
Line-up tweaks without singling anyone out
He confirmed that changes would be made to the starting eleven but refused to name the players involved, stressing that any adjustment was about adding a different dimension rather than punishing poor performance. The coach hinted that Lamine Yamal, back to fitness, could feature from the start, although he would not commit to minutes.
“The best news is that he is back and has a tremendous desire to do something important in this championship. We still have to hold him back a little. He is a genius, a different kind of footballer. When Dalí and Michelangelo painted a painting, you also thought it was very difficult, but it came out naturally.”
The lack of width has been a concern: Nico Williams is not yet in top form, Víctor Muñoz has suffered a relapse, and Yamal is still short of full match fitness. De la Fuente said Spain needed to recapture the fast ball circulation and sharpness that created spaces during its European Championship run.
The Pedri dilemma
Much of the tactical debate centres on Pedri, whose performance against Cape Verde was the brightest note of a dull night. He covered 12.6 kilometres, led the team in attempts (14), pressures on the opposing build-up (58), forced opponent turnovers (21) and crosses into the box (12). The 23‑year‑old midfielder is being used closer to the opposition area by De la Fuente, though he is known to prefer a deeper playmaking role. A possible solution is to introduce Dani Olmo, shift Pedri further back and rest Fabián, a combination that has rarely been tried under the current coach.
“He can play in every position. If Luis sees it right to put him closer to the box, there must be a reason. He is a spectacular player and helps us wherever he plays. He is one of the best in the world.”
- Distance covered (km)
- 12.63
- Attempts
- 14
- Pressures on opponent buildup
- 58
- Opponent turnovers caused
- 21
- Crosses into the box
- 12
Data from the article text
A must-win without drama
Spain arrived in the United States as one of the tournament favourites, with a favourable group draw that placed Cape Verde and Saudi Arabia before a clash with Uruguay. A second misstep would complicate progress, though the coach insisted there is no sense of urgency, only a collective desire to show a very different face. He said the team needs to return to being itself, with or without certain individuals, and that the emotional drive in the dressing room would overcome any tactical setback.