Spain manager Luis de la Fuente claimed his side had revived the spirit of their 2010 World Cup triumph after a commanding 2-0 victory over France on Tuesday sent them into the final, leaving them one win away from a second world title.

Spain, who won their first World Cup 16 years ago, neutralized a French attack that had scored 16 goals before the semifinal and was regarded as one of the tournament's most dangerous. France failed to register a shot on target until after the 80th minute, missing the chance to reach a third consecutive final.

Led by Kylian Mbappe, Les Bleus were the pre-tournament favorites in North America. De la Fuente told a news conference: "The message was that we were up against one of the best teams in the world, but that they were up against the best team in the world."

"These players show commitment, solidarity and talent. They make the difficult look easy. They have talent and the right attitude towards life and sport. I see a happy dressing room and a nation behind us. We've recaptured the spirit of 2010," he added.

De la Fuente praised a squad built on humility, shared purpose and the absence of egos, saying Spain's strength came from everyone moving in the same direction. "I believe the most important thing is knowing how to choose your traveling companions. If you make the wrong choice of traveling companions, you could end up with a problem," he said.

Spain, who won Euro 2024, have now equaled Italy's record of 37 consecutive unbeaten matches, but de la Fuente said his players still had room to grow. "This team never ceases to amaze me. The scope for improvement is endless," he said.

De la Fuente said he would like to face Argentina in the final due to his close friendship with manager Lionel Scaloni, while also praising England and describing the other semifinal as a match that "could easily be the World Cup final." "I don't believe in the idea that finals are there to be won. They're there to be enjoyed," he concluded.

Source: www.aljazeera.com