Soccer Football - Euro 2024 - Spain Training - Donaueschingen, Germany - July 8, 2024 Spain coach Luis de la Fuente during training REUTERS/Robin Rudel
MUNICH, Germany (Reuters) - Spain manager Luis de la Fuente said on Monday that his side will stay true to their identity which is playing entertaining football in their Euro 2024 semi-final against France that is expected to be a contrast of styles.
While Spain have looked in imperious form in their five straight wins in Germany, goal-shy France have come under fire from fans and pundits for some unimpressive performances and have reached the last four without scoring a goal in open play.
De la Fuente said that he doesn't think that watching France is "boring", but acknowledged that Spain have a different approach to the game under his command.
"We all try to build a gameplan that will help you win. It comes that our model is all about doing that through a beautiful spectacle," he told a press conference.
"Spain are an eye-catching team, I won't deny that, it's our DNA, but in the end, here it's about winning. We want to play, but we want to be practical.
"Our way to get the result is to try to be eye-catching. But at this stage it's the result that counts because it is how your job will get judged and evaluated in the end."
At the same venue in which France manager Didier Deschamps hit back at the critics of his side's style, saying that those who think his side are "boring" should "go watch something else", De la Fuente said he admired his rivals' game.
"What I value and analyse is their potential and France have players of a very high level, they are a great team. You are free to get bored with what they want, I'm not bored when I watch them," the Spanish coach said.
De la Fuente will be without three key players in defenders Dani Carvajal and Robin Le Normand, both suspended, and midfielder Pedri, who will miss the rest of the Euros due to a knee injury.
The players have had a limited period to recover after their draining extra-time win against hosts Germany in the quarter-finals.
"We are recovering well considering the travel, the stress and the games. It's only a few days and it doesn't help much in the recovery. Let's see how we are tomorrow," De la Fuente said.
"But that's the way it is and the players are used to the grind and have their own process, they will be ready.
"In any case, motivation makes you overcome any setbacks. We'll see that during the match. I think we are ready to play this game against a an opponent that is physically very strong."
(Reporting by Fernando Kallas; Editing by Christian Radnedge)
