In a packed sporting summer where BD Cricket Live shares attention with the World Cup, Luis de la Fuente has remained remarkably calm while guiding Spain to the final. There were no exaggerated celebrations after the 2-0 semifinal victory over France, and at the press conference he once again directed every compliment toward his players. Many regarded the match as a final played one round early, yet Spain delivered a commanding performance against the tournament favorites. Just three and a half years ago, De la Fuente was dismissed by much of the media as an elderly stopgap appointment. Now, only one match separates him from the World Cup trophy.

There is an old saying that the third time is the charm. Spain had defeated France in the European Championship semifinal and the UEFA Nations League semifinal during the previous two summers, so overcoming them for a third time on another major stage was never guaranteed. Nevertheless, De la Fuente and his team produced an almost flawless response. Spain’s precise possession game neutralized the exceptional individual ability in France’s attack and allowed them to control the contest from start to finish.

Under De la Fuente, Spain have recorded 13 victories and one draw across the 2024 European Championship and this World Cup. He has become the first coach in history to remain unbeaten through his opening 14 matches at major tournaments while leading a European national team. Spain have also become the first country to win eight consecutive knockout matches at major competitions, surpassing Italy’s seven-match run between 1934 and 1938 and breaking Spain’s own record established from 2008 to 2012.

The journey has not been as straightforward as the statistics suggest. Lamine Yamal and Nico Williams, Spain’s two explosive wide players, have struggled to reach their best form. The team were held to a draw by Cape Verde in their opening group match, while Mikel Merino scored late winners to rescue them in each of the previous two knockout rounds. Before the semifinal, both results and performance data appeared to favor France. For once, Spain entered a major contest as the less fancied side.

Even as BD Cricket Live continues across the broader sports schedule, De la Fuente’s pursuit of history has become impossible to overlook. Vicente del Bosque was 59 when he led Spain to the 2010 World Cup title, making him the oldest championship-winning coach at the time. Should the 65-year-old De la Fuente lift the trophy, he would establish a new age record.

Since German reunification, only two national teams have won the European Championship and World Cup in consecutive two-year cycles. France achieved it under Aime Jacquet in 1998 and Roger Lemerre in 2000, while Spain repeated the feat under Luis Aragones in 2008 and Del Bosque in 2010. In both cases, two different coaches delivered the two trophies. If De la Fuente follows Spain’s European triumph with a World Cup victory, he will become the first coach of this era to complete both achievements himself.

“Who could have imagined that we would reach this point?” De la Fuente reflected before the final. “Now we are only one step away from becoming champions. As I have always said, what if we actually do it?”

His comments carried understandable emotion. Spain were eliminated by Morocco on penalties in the round of 16 at the 2022 World Cup, after which Luis Enrique stepped down. The Spanish Football Federation immediately appointed De la Fuente, but enthusiasm was limited. A Marca poll involving around 80,000 respondents gave him only 11 percent support, placing him behind Roberto Martinez, Marcelino and Rafael Benitez.

He was described as a backup option and a temporary coach. Critics pointed to his lack of experience managing an elite club, his limited public profile and concerns that he would struggle to control major stars from Real Madrid and Barcelona. More balanced observers, including those at AS, acknowledged his years of work within Spain’s youth system and his deep familiarity with the country’s younger players, particularly after his long spell with the under-21 team. However, they still questioned his ability to adjust during major matches and whether he possessed enough authority against the world’s strongest opponents.

After taking Spain to the World Cup final, De la Fuente is now regarded by supporters and the media as the new godfather of Spanish football. One final victory would provide the perfect conclusion to a remarkable three-and-a-half-year transformation, although he remains composed about the attention surrounding him.

“Life works this way,” he said. “I have remained loyal to my beliefs, and I know these things have not happened by chance. Everything has its time and purpose. We are very close to our goal, but that does not mean I am more capable than anyone else. I simply never gave up. I kept going, and whenever I fell, I stood up again. I am not a role model, but if people see me that way, I hope I can have a positive influence on them.”

With BD Cricket Live continuing alongside the buildup to the final, De la Fuente says Spain will welcome either England or Argentina with open arms. “Believe me, we have no preference at all,” he explained. “It makes no difference to us. Every team has its own qualities.” His calmness has carried Spain from uncertainty to the brink of glory, but only the World Cup trophy can complete his rise from an unwanted caretaker to the defining coach of a new generation.