De la Fuente seeks Nations League reminder ahead of Portugal clash

Luis de la Fuente re-examined the tape of Spain's ​UEFA Nations League loss to Portugal last week in a bid to uncover clues that will help him ‌turn the tables on their Iberian neighbours in their World Cup last-16 clash in Dallas Stadium on Monday.

The Portuguese won the 2025 title in a penalty shootout after a 2-2 draw in Munich and the teams face off again in the World Cup knockout rounds with Spain looking to ​avenge that loss.

"I've seen that match, but in the last week again I reviewed it just because we're seeking ​to remind ourselves of the features our opponent has," he told reporters on Sunday.

"The details will ⁠make a huge difference tomorrow, so the more we know the opponent the better off we will be. We want to ​know them very well and be very aware of their strengths, of which they have many and their weaknesses, which every ​team has.

"I think the game will be very different, not only in a football sense. Our football idea is similar, we like to have the ball but it's the World Cup and a World Cup is a unique opportunity.

"It's a knockout game and we have to play in the ​best way to get victory and that's what we're going to do and not let the opponent control the game."

RONALDO ​CAN STILL BE DECISIVE

Cristiano Ronaldo, who the Spain coach called "a genius", was one of Portugal's scorers in the most recent meeting between the teams ‌and ⁠De la Fuente conceded the 41-year-old remained a threat to his side's hopes of progressing to the quarter-finals.

"As a footballer he is someone you have to take care of, he can change a game in the moment," said De la Fuente. "It's not that we have to do man-to-man marking, but in certain areas we have to be aware he's there.

"Cristiano has quality and class ​and in any moment he can ​be decisive. I would ⁠prefer if he didn't play, of course, but I think he will."

Spain's progress through the tournament so far, which saw them top their group before defeating Austria in the last 32, has ​prompted De la Fuente's side to be likened to the team that won the title ​in South Africa ⁠in 2010.

"To think that we might be compared to a squad from the past really makes me proud," he said. "That was a spectacular team, a brilliant team. My players, no one is giving them anything for free.

"We are on our way and, whether we win ⁠the title ​or not, it's a very challenging thing to do.

"We have footballers who ​have a whole career ahead of them, they're just at the start of this. Recognition is given for titles, for championships and these players are always ​going to be in the fight for those.

"Whether they win this, that's challenging to predict."