ARLINGTON, Texas — In the Amazon Prime documentary chronicling Spain’s triumph at Euro 2024, coach Luis de la Fuente is shown repeating the same message to his players again and again: “You are very good. You are the best in the world.”
On Monday, at Dallas Stadium (AT&T Stadium), they proved exactly that.
In a match loaded with historical weight, Spain defeated Portugal 1-0 to reach the quarterfinals at the World Cup.
The victory for La Furia Roja also marked the final World Cup appearance for Portuguese icon Cristiano Ronaldo.
"It’s a very painful defeat; we’re all very sad,” said Portugal’s coach Roberto Martínez, who announced that he is stepping down after the loss to Spain.
"We lost to one of the favorites to win the World Cup. We can all look each other in the eye and feel proud of what we did.”
Spain now sits three wins away from claiming its second World Cup title. The first came in South Africa in 2010, delivered by a generation once considered impossible to replicate.
Sixteen years later, the world is asking whether this new Spanish wave — led by teenage sensation Lamine Yamal — can match, or perhaps surpass, the legacy of Xabi Alonso, Carles Puyol, Andrés Iniesta, Iker Casillas, Sergio Busquets and others who defined an era.
“The fact that people compare you to such brilliant, spectacular generations is already an honor,” De la Fuente said the day before facing Portugal. “It’s a source of pride that these footballers are being mentioned alongside that spectacular, brilliant group.”
This year's rise
Spain has climbed steadily throughout the tournament. Concerns surfaced after a scoreless draw in its opener against modest — but ultimately surprising — Cape Verde.
From there, the Iberian side raised its level, finished atop its group and comfortably eliminated Austria in the round of 32.
Monday’s match was a showdown between two heavyweights, each stacked with elite‑level talent, and it kept all 70,649 fans inside Jerry Jones’s house in Arlington thoroughly entertained.
Spain’s first big chance came in the 16th minute, when Álex Baena unleashed a wicked, curling shot from the left edge of Portugal’s box. The ball seemed destined for the far upper corner, but Diogo Costa sprang into the air and, with a brilliant opposite‑hand save, pushed it out for a corner.
Spain’s control was absolute throughout the first half, and Portugal didn’t produce a real look at goal until the 37th minute. Pedro Neto swung in a deep cross from the right, João Félix cushioned it back across the box and Cristiano Ronaldo did well to adjust and steer a difficult shot on target — but goalkeeper Unai Simón reacted sharply and smothered the danger.
Five minutes later, Spain survived another scare. Nuno Mendes let fly from distance, the shot took a deflection off defender Pedro Porro and the ball crashed off the crossbar — a moment that made every Spanish heart drop before springing back to life.
Spain’s second half turned into a battle of evenly matched forces — right up until stoppage time. In the 90+1 minute, the breakthrough finally arrived: Mikel Merino beat the Portuguese goalkeeper with a composed finish after a brilliant, threaded assist from Ferran Torres, sealing Spain’s victory.
"Merino is a hugely valued player — both on the human side and on the sporting side," said Rodri, who was named the MVP of the game. "He’s a sensational footballer. He’s a player who knows how to play from the very start. I love that. He has that ability that very few players have in big moments."
Regarding the match, Rodri noted that Portugal posed an exceptionally complex tactical puzzle to solve.
“It was a very tough match. I think Portugal is the team that most resembles us, and the hardest to break down between the lines," he said.
Spain controlled the duel at Dallas Stadium. Beyond Yamal, the team boasts other young standouts, including midfielders Gavi, 21, and Pedri, 23.
They anchor a dream midfield alongside Dani Olmo, Merino, Fabián Ruiz, Baena and Rodri.
“With the utmost respect to everyone: we have the best midfield in the world,” said De la Fuente, who has coached Spain since 2022.
At the stadium in Arlington, that midfield worked wonders with the ball. Yet despite the impressive display, Spain believes it still hasn’t reached its ceiling.
“We can grow a lot more,” Rodri said afterward. “We have experience in these tournaments and we know when it’s time to show our best face.”
Pursuit of perfection
De la Fuente’s obsession with detail — and his insistence that his players never settle — is what fuels Spain’s pursuit of perfection.
“When I talk about our margin for improvement, it’s because I’m so optimistic and have so much faith in these footballers that I believe we’re still capable of doing things even better.”
Despite their frequent presence on football’s biggest stage, the Spaniards have lifted the trophy only once in 17 World Cup appearances. Now, many believe they are on course to stitch a second star onto their jersey.
“Winning a World Cup is the hardest thing there is — I’ll say that upfront,” De la Fuente said. Yet despite the warning, he believes he may be shaping the greatest Spanish team of all time.
“No one has handed these footballers anything. They still need to win the World Cup, but we’re on the right path, whether it happens or not. The recognition for this generation will come with more titles, but whatever happens, they’ve already earned everyone’s respect.”
Spain’s next match will be against the winner of the United States vs. Belgium showdown.
For De la Fuente, it’s the next hurdle on the road toward the dream of lifting the FIFA trophy.
It’s a dream he clings to because, as he often says, his players aren’t just good — they’re very good.