Spain manager Luis de la Fuente expressed his pride after his team’s emphatic 6-0 victory over Turkey on Sunday in their second group stage match. Despite the one-sided scoreline in Konya, he stressed that his players must remain grounded and not get carried away by the result.
The Spanish side struck early, taking just five minutes to open the scoring. Although goalkeeper Unai Simón was called upon to make a couple of interventions before halftime, Spain consistently appeared a step ahead of their opponents in what was expected to be their most demanding group fixture.
Speaking to Diario AS, de la Fuente said, “I’m proud of my players, proud of the national team, proud of representing our country the way we are. It makes me happy to see us continue to grow.”
Lessons from Bulgaria and drive to improve
The coach reminded reporters that the squad had been unsatisfied with their subdued second-half display against Bulgaria just days earlier. In contrast, they produced a sharp response against Turkey, adding three more goals in the opening 20 minutes after the interval.
“This group doesn’t need much explanation; they understand quickly,” he noted. “We weren’t happy with Thursday’s match, and we didn’t want to repeat the same errors. This was the answer: a team that never stops, never stops working, never stops looking to improve.”
De la Fuente underlined the importance of maintaining humility despite their strong performance. “There is still so much room for growth. They’re hungry, insatiable. But we need to stay cautious—success comes if we keep our feet on the ground. These are great players, but also great people, and arrogance won’t get in the way.”
Standout performances and injury concern
Mikel Merino delivered a standout display from midfield, scoring a hat-trick, while Pedri added two goals of his own. De la Fuente was quick to praise his squad’s talent, highlighting that Spanish footballers have often been overlooked in global recognition. “Iniesta, Xavi, Xabi Alonso were undervalued. Now Lamine and Fabián are nominated [for the Ballon d’Or], but Pedri, Merino, Zubimendi… there are many more who deserve to be there. Pedri is the best in the world in his position.”
Pedri’s numbers underlined his influence: two goals from three attempts, three key passes—including one that nearly provided an assist for Lamine Yamal—and a pass accuracy of 91%. He was substituted for Fermín López after an impressive showing.
The only setback came with Nico Williams, who left the pitch after sustaining an adductor injury. De la Fuente confirmed the issue but said further details were not yet available.