​Spain’s head coach Luis de la Fuente has reiterated his full backing for Barcelona’s trio of Pedri, Lamine Yamal and Gavi as La Roja prepare for their FIFA World Cup 2026 quarter-final clash with Belgium. The comments come just hours after France secured a spot in the semi-finals by beating Morocco, with Spain aiming to join them in the last four.
In a pre-match press conference, de la Fuente offered detailed assessments of several Barcelona players on the World Cup stage, highlighting Pedri and Lamine Yamal while also responding to Gavi’s ambitious target of scoring a bicycle kick in the tournament final.
When asked to evaluate Pedri’s recent form, the Spain manager emphasised that the Barcelona midfielder remains one of the most dependable players in the national team, even if he isn’t always delivering his most spectacular football. “Very good. Whether he’s on top form or not, he always sets a very good tone. It probably wasn’t the most spectacular performance, but it was certainly effective. And those who came on benefited from that work. You have to bear in mind that not everyone can be at 100%. And we’re specialists in that – when one player isn’t at 100 per cent, another steps in to cover for him. With us, he’s always at his best. I’ll stick with the Pedri from the national team.”
Turning to Lamine Yamal, de la Fuente addressed whether the youngster needs to contribute even more offensively as Spain eye Belgium in the quarter-finals. He responded with a clear plan: Yamal is highly motivated, and the key is to keep him calm to avoid unnecessary anxiety. “Yes. I think he’s really motivated. That’s why we need to keep him calm, so that doesn’t turn into anxiety. And we know the best Lamine is yet to come because he hasn’t quite reached that moment of brilliance yet. But the other day he had to show his defensive skills against a very powerful opponent, and he did so right up until he took Nuno Mendes out. Lamine Yamal will be crucial against Belgium.” The coach added that Yamal delivered a mature performance and is poised to reach his full attacking potential because of his undeniable talent, stressing that the best is still to come.
The press conference also touched on Gavi after the Barcelona midfielder voiced a dream of scoring a bicycle kick in the World Cup final. Rather than brushing off the idea, de la Fuente welcomed the ambition and praised the youngster’s mentality ahead of one of Spain’s most significant matches of the tournament. “Well, I’d be delighted because it would mean we’d reached the final, and if Gavi – whom we love so much – were to score it on top of that. That would show he believes we can get there. Gavi is a fantastic lad and a great footballer,” he concluded.
Throughout his remarks, de la Fuente underscored his confidence in Pedri’s consistency, Yamal’s continued growth and Gavi’s unwavering ambition, framing them as essential components of Spain’s bid to advance beyond the quarter-finals and toward the tournament’s latter stages. He stressed the importance of balance and composure for all three, maintaining that Pedri’s reliability, Yamal’s evolving brilliance, and Gavi’s fearless mindset collectively strengthen Spain’s chances against Belgium.