‘This generation of players can make history’ - Spain boss Luis de la Fuente ‘proud’ of Euro 2024 triumph

Published 15/07/2024 at 07:42 GMT

Spain head coach Luis de la Fuente believes his side can go on to achieve further success after beating England 2-1 to win Euro 2024 in Berlin. The new European champions became the first team to win all seven of their games at the tournament and also set a new goalscoring record, with 15 in total. Substitute Mikel Oyarzabal scored the winning goal, in the 86th minute.

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Luis de la Fuente believes Spain has a “generation of players who can make history” after beating England 2-1 to win Euro 2024 in Berlin.

Substitute Mikel Oyarzabal came on to score the winning goal in the 86th minute, after Cole Palmer equalised following Nico Williams’ strike early in the second half.

Spain became the first nation to win all seven of their games at the tournament, while they also broke the goalscoring record at the European Championship with 15 in total.

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To further demonstrate their dominance in Germany, captain Rodri was named player of the tournament, while Lamine Yamal won the award for best young player, a day after he turned 17.

“They are tireless. They will keep improving, competing, trying to win and they all need to feel proud,” said De la Fuente.

“I said it at the beginning and I'll just keep saying it now: they make my life and my work much easier.

“I’m really happy about my country, about Spain, about the excitement we have created and I hope everybody feels as proud about this generation of players who can make history and have a long future ahead of them.

“All I wanted was for my players to believe in me and to be convinced of what I told them, not only me, but also the whole technical staff. I feel proud. We have earned this. Nobody gave us anything for free. The harder things are to get, the more valuable they are.”

De la Fuente praised Oyarzabal’s contribution, describing the Real Sociedad forward as “always a sure bet”.

“I don’t know if it was karma, fate or who knows what, but something put me in that position to score that goal,” said the match winner.

“We have been here 45 days, giving it our all, and we feel like we are a family.”

De la Fuente also spoke of how proud he is of the example set by his players, hoping it rubs off on Spain fans who have followed their journey throughout the tournament.

“It's young people, veterans with ambition, willing to work, willing to show companionship, solidarity,” he said.

“All this gave us the possibilities to try to compete and to win something. But I insist that the result is not only what is important, but also the whole process matters.

“I don't know if we will change society, but especially with younger people, young people can see players not just as spoilt brats, but as people who work really hard, who live everything on the pitch, who set an example.

"It will be very nice to show the youngsters the kind of thing you could do in life.”

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