Culture, consistency and Lamine Yamal - inside De la Fuente's Spain

Luis de la Fuente's Spain are closing in on greatness as they bid to become just the fourth team to hold both the World Cup and European Championship crowns simultaneously. De la Fuente, now in his fourth year as Spain boss, has lost just three times since taking over in January 2023 and is on a 35-game unbeaten run. His team is set to face Belgium in a quarter-final, with France potentially waiting for the winners. De la Fuente's success is attributed to his ability to build teams through both tactics and people, creating a culture centered on the conviction that football is a team sport built by good people. He emphasizes generosity, support, selflessness, and discipline, selecting players who fit the collective identity rather than the other way around. Spain's footballing identity has been developed over decades, and De la Fuente has added layers of versatility, depth, and comfort in transitions, with one observer noting he "merely re-paints the cathedral from time to time."