Spain reaffirmed the outstanding form it has shown throughout the World Cup, defeating France 2-0 and securing its spot in the tournament’s final.

After the match ended, Luis de la Fuente appeared visibly moved; he highlighted his players’ efforts and did not hesitate to describe his team as the best in the world.

Here is what he said in detail:

On his feelings after advancing:

“It’s hard to describe how I feel. It’s like the happiness and pride you feel when you lead players like these. We still have one more step ahead of us, and we’ll try to take it.”

On the significance of reaching the World Cup final:

“There’s tremendous pressure and a great deal of responsibility. Reaching the World Cup final is a privilege reserved for the few, and we must enjoy it. We started almost four years ago with a specific vision, we stayed true to it, and it has brought us this far.”

On Spain’s performance against France: “We

faced one of the best teams in the world, but today they faced the best team in the world.”

*photo source: AP