Get ready for the World Cup showdown of the century as Spain's Luis de la Fuente declares war on the man-marking approach against Lionel Messi and Argentina in this Sunday's final in New Jersey. The usually composed coach is about to take a risk, refusing to play into the Argentine maestro's hands with a dedicated marker – despite having fallen victim to his magic 22 years ago.
De la Fuente's memories of that fateful Copa del Rey clash between Sevilla and Barcelona's under-19s in May 2004 still linger. "We had put a man-marker on Messi, but when the player was given a yellow card, I took him off," he recalls with a chuckle. In the next 15 minutes, the teenage Messi unleashed four goals, leaving an indelible mark on De la Fuente's tactical mind. However, he's adamant that this experience won't dictate his strategy for Sunday's final: "Does it mean we're going to man-mark him? No – but does it mean we'll be keeping a close eye on him? Absolutely!"
De la Fuente also tackled comparisons between Spain's young talent, Lamine Yamal, and the mercurial Messi. In no uncertain terms, he declared: "Lamine has to be Lamine – Messi can never be repeated." He praised the Argentine icon as an "extraordinary talent" and a shining example for young players everywhere. De la Fuente expects a thrilling contest between two top-tier teams, promising a spectacular display of skill, flair, and great football.
The Spanish coach also fired back at suggestions that Argentina might resort to unsportsmanlike tactics or be labelled as a "dirty team". He expressed his "extraordinary admiration" for the Argentinian side, highlighting their impressive trophy haul: Copa América (2021), World Cup, Copa América (2024), and Finalissima champions. De la Fuente praised Argentina's coach, Lionel Scaloni, as a friend, and confirmed that both teams would rely on their "footballing skills" – no dirty tricks needed.
De la Fuente dismissed the notion of Sunday's final being an all-or-nothing event, stressing that simply being in the position to win is what matters. In a lighter moment, he joked about his one fear: navigating the logistics of travelling by helicopter between New Jersey and Manhattan for pre-match events – not the match itself. The Spain coach also subtly chastised FIFA for failing to ensure respect during a chaotic event where he struggled to speak over the cacophony cheering on Messi, urging greater consideration in the future.