Luis de la Fuente says Spain want more at Wembley

Spain arrive at Wembley carrying the glow of champions, but Luis de la Fuente insists the story is nowhere near finished. After winning the World Cup, the European Championship and the Nations League, his message to England is simple: success has not dulled the hunger.

Spain’s winning cycle keeps rolling

De la Fuente’s Spain are no longer chasing validation. They have already built a modern era defined by trophies, continuity and a fierce belief in their own standards. Yet the coach says the biggest challenge is not what they have won, but how they respond now that they are expected to win every time they step on the pitch.

That mindset was summed up by a story he told after naming his latest squad at Las Rozas. Right after the final whistle in New Jersey, one long-serving player asked him: “Now what? What’s left to win?” De la Fuente’s answer came quickly: England at Wembley.

It was a revealing moment, not just because it showed how far Spain have come, but because it exposed the mentality inside the camp. For this group, the last trophy is never the last target.

Continuity remains the defining feature

The squad for Wembley is heavily shaped by the same core that delivered Spain’s recent success. Of the 26 players from the World Cup, only four were omitted, and each absence came with a clear explanation. Marcos Llorente has retired from international football, Joan García is injured, Borja Iglesias is not fully fit and Gavi is suspended for this fixture.

Back in the group is Fermín López, while Josep Martínez, Dean Huijsen and Roberto Fernández also return to the conversation. Pedro Porro later withdrew and was replaced by Iván Fresneda. De la Fuente’s approach remains consistent: trust the players who have already proven they can deliver.

“How could there not be continuity with players who are champions of everything?” he asked. It is a line that captures both his loyalty and his confidence in the current generation.

Wembley marks a new test, not a celebration alone

There is a festive edge to Spain’s trip to London. This will be their first game as world champions, and that alone gives the fixture extra significance. The stars have already been added to their shirts, the walls at their training base are decorated with images of recent triumphs, and the squad has been feted across Spain.

But De la Fuente is clear that the occasion is not just ceremonial. Spain want to enjoy the moment, yes, but they also want to compete. The Nations League, in particular, matters to him. He sees it as the beginning of this era, the first trophy for a generation that had often lived in the shadow of the famous side that dominated between 2008 and 2012.

That context matters. Spain’s current run has not been built on nostalgia. It has been built on results, pressure and the refusal to slow down. Even after losing the June 2025 Nations League final on penalties to Portugal, the frustration only sharpened their appetite.

De la Fuente’s message: one title is not enough

De la Fuente has now reached every final he has taken charge of, and his contract extension until 2032 reflects the trust Spain’s federation places in his work. But the coach is treating that extension as a responsibility rather than a reward. In his words, it is about “services pending”, not just services rendered.

He also made his broader philosophy clear when asked about the team’s future. “This team won’t stop; it wants more and more, to be the best,” he said. “What we did at the World Cup is not enough to keep us winning games or to beat England.”

That line says everything about Spain’s current mentality. They are champions, but not satisfied. They are admired, but still restless. And in De la Fuente, they have a coach who speaks their language.

Spain’s transformation under him has been built on belief, structure and a willingness to keep improving. He is not pretending the job is done. In fact, he seems determined to make sure his players never think that way either.

England face a relentless opponent

For England, the challenge at Wembley is obvious: they are facing a team that sees every fixture as another chance to raise the bar. Spain may be world and European champions, but they arrive with the same intensity as a side still proving itself.

That is what makes them so dangerous. The title has not made them comfortable. It has made them harder to satisfy. And that, De la Fuente believes, is the key to sustaining success.

“Success is not winning; it is being in a position where you can win,” he said. It is a subtle but telling distinction, and one that perfectly captures Spain’s current state. They are not defending an era. They are extending it.

If Wembley is supposed to be a welcome-back celebration, Spain may have other ideas. The world champions are here to enjoy the spotlight, but they are also here to keep collecting what they believe they have not yet finished earning.