​Spain boss Luis de la Fuente has explained why he left Barcelona midfielder Pedri on the bench for Friday’s World Cup quarter-final against Belgium. In a surprising move, Pedri did not start, with PSG star Fabian Ruiz selected to begin the match as the key clash got underway. After the game, de la Fuente faced questions about his lineup and provided his reasoning in a candid assessment of the decision.
“It’s unfair that Mikel Merino isn’t playing, but it would be equally unfair if someone else were left out. Only eleven can play, and they understand that role, the part they have to play at any given moment,” he said. “When they come on, they know what they have to do, which is why it’s a pleasure to be their coach. Fabián is training very well, as is Pedri, but any of them could play.”
The Spain coach elaborated that the selection was about giving the team a different dynamic. “We were looking to give the team a different feel; Fabián has more control of the game, he’s different from Pedri. We understood that’s what we needed: more attacking threat, while Pedri is left out for the final stages with his freshness and vision.”
Fabian Ruiz did indeed impact the match, scoring the opening goal in a 2-1 victory for Spain that secured a place in the semi-finals against France. The decision to start Ruiz over Pedri drew significant attention, as Pedri’s omission from the starting XI was a notable tactical choice by de la Fuente. The Spaniards went on to show resilience in a tightly contested affair, and Ruiz’s goal helped pave the way for a semifinal showdown.
Pedri’s absence from the starting lineup raised questions about how Spain plans to balance creativity and control in the later stages of the tournament. De la Fuente’s brief, pragmatic explanation underscored a broader strategy: rotate players to maintain freshness and adapt to the opposition, while leveraging different players’ strengths to destabilize opponents. The coach emphasized that the squad understands their roles and that substitutions are made with the aim of maximizing performance for the moments that matter most.
As Spain advanced to the semi-finals, the tactical gamble appeared to pay off. The team demonstrated flexibility in midfield and attack, with Ruiz’s influence providing a different texture to the lineup. The match’s outcome kept Spain on course for a potential title push, and the coach’s decision to alter the attacking profile for the Belgium clash received both scrutiny and support in equal measure.
Going forward, de la Fuente’s approach suggests Spain will continue to rotate and adapt, keeping opposing teams guessing about lineup and strategy. Pedri remains a vital part of the squad, and his contributions could come at crucial moments in the tournament’s latter stages, depending on the game plan and fitness considerations. For now, Spain celebrates a hard-fought win that makes their path to the final increasingly tangible, with France standing in the way of a place in the championship match.