Spain sink France, De la Fuente says they're the best

The result that speaks for itself

A 2-0 win over France in a World Cup semi-final is not a scoreline that needs dressing up. France are not a side you brush aside — they have the squad depth, the individual quality, and the tournament pedigree to hurt anyone on their day. Spain didn't let them have a day.

The full match details — scorers, minutes, venue — are yet to be confirmed by Flagside, but the headline result is not in doubt: Spain were dominant enough that the margin felt comfortable rather than fortunate. That matters. There's a difference between nicking a semi-final and winning one.

De la Fuente's 'unbeatable' claim

Luis de la Fuente is not a manager who typically reaches for the superlatives. Which is exactly why this landed. According to ESPN FC, he declared Spain 'the best team in the world' and said they were 'feeling unbeatable' heading into the final — the kind of statement that either ages brilliantly or becomes the most-replayed clip of the tournament.

It's worth contextualising what he's working with. This is a Spain side that has been building a distinct identity — high-tempo, positionally intelligent, technically relentless — and they've carried that into a World Cup knockout run that now includes eliminating the reigning European heavyweights in France. De la Fuente didn't invent the swagger. His players earned it.

Does the claim hold water?

The honest answer: probably yes, for now. Spain have looked the most cohesive unit at this tournament — the kind of team where the system is the star, even when the individuals are exceptional. France, for all their talent, couldn't find a way through a side that pressed with purpose and transitioned with speed.

De la Fuente said it with a straight face. That's the most telling part.