Spain head coach Luis de la Fuente opened the press conference with condolences over the Venezuela tragedy on behalf of the entire delegation. On the squad selection, he noted that the performance against Saudi Arabia gives little reason for changes, but players who have trained at a high level all week deserve their chance — the XI is already decided in his head, with a final staff review planned for the evening.

He described Uruguay as a squad packed with players competing at top European level, calling tomorrow's game the most important of the tournament — the same label he has applied to every match so far. The reported friction between Baena and Valverde drew a calm response: both are professionals, hard football is not the same as dirty football, and the intensity will simply reflect what a World Cup knockout-stage atmosphere demands.

Players yet to feature — Nico Williams, Zubimendi, Eric — were framed as the competitive engine of the squad; their hunger keeps starters sharp, and it was bench players who settled the decisive Euro 2024 matches. Spain's plan is to impose their own game rather than react to Uruguay's must-win situation, with De la Fuente stressing that his side also has plenty at stake for group positioning.

He spoke with genuine warmth about Bielsa, disclosing he spent four or five months attending every Athletic training session during the Argentine's tenure and still has the footage — facing him is described as an honour. The standout trend from the 2026 World Cup, in De la Fuente's reading, is the near-elimination of the quality gap between nations: results across the group stage confirm that no win is guaranteed for anyone.