‘We don’t care who we face’ – Spain boss De la Fuente confident in World Cup chances

Syndicated reporting provided by Stats Perform and reviewed by the SoccerNews editorial team.

Spain head coach Luis de la Fuente insisted “we don’t care who we face” at the World Cup after defeating Portugal in the last 16.

Mikel Merino came off the bench to score in the 91st minute and clinch a 1-0 win at Dallas Stadium, sending the European champions into the quarter-finals.

Merino’s winner for Spain was the 10th last-minute winner (90th or 120th) scored at the 2026 World Cup, the outright most in a single edition in the competition’s history.

It was also Spain’s 11th 1-0 victory at the World Cup, with only Germany (17) and Brazil (13) having more in the competition.

La Roja will face either the United States or Belgium in the next round, though De la Fuente is not bothered by who comes next.

“It was truly a fantastic game, a final before the final, and, as expected, we suffered until the very end,” said the Spain boss.

“At this stage, we don’t care who we face, we’re happy to be in the quarter-finals and we’re going to give it our all until the end.

“We have many qualities that will make our opponents think we’re the team to beat. We have a lot of confidence in ourselves, we’re very sure of ourselves, and we’ll give our best until the very last moment.

“Our opponents will have to beat us. I think we have many advantages that will make our opponents think the same way.”

10 – There have now been 10 last minute winners (90th or 120th) at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the outright most in a single edition of the competition.

— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) July 6, 2026

Merino’s goal was Spain’s second 90th-minute winner in World Cup history, after Peiro against Mexico in 1962.

He is also the fifth different Arsenal player to score at the 2026 World Cup, the most different Gunners to find the net in a single edition of the competition.

Merino’s World Cup was in doubt after suffering a foot injury, but he managed to recover in time for the competition.

“Life has its ups and downs, good times and bad. When they told me about the injury, I thought I wouldn’t be at the World Cup and here we are,” Merino told La 1.

“You never get used to having these joys. Such a beautiful match and to give this joy to the people in their homes.”

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