Spain Coach Wants to Face His Pupil in the Final

Spain has secured their place in the World Cup final after defeating France 2-0 in the semifinals. They are now waiting to find out who their opponents will be in the title-deciding match. Meanwhile, Argentina and England are set to clash in the second semifinal on Wednesday night. Ahead of this high-voltage match, Spanish coach Luis de la Fuente said he wishes to face Argentina in the final.

Beyond the battle of tactics and philosophy on the football field, De la Fuente and Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni share a wonderful personal friendship. When Scaloni was a student in the Spanish Football Federation's coaching course, De la Fuente was his instructor. Drawing from that old bond, De la Fuente shared his preference during a press conference.

"I would prefer to play against Argentina in the final because of my long-standing relationship with Scaloni," De la Fuente said. "However, this isn't just about personal preference; England is also an exceptionally strong and tough opponent. Either team from the semifinals deserves to be in the final. The top four teams in the world rankings reached the semifinals, which has elevated the standard of this World Cup to another level."

Will the mentor and protégé meet in the World Cup final?

On the other hand, Argentina coach Scaloni did not hold back in showing respect for his former teacher. Speaking at the pre-match press conference ahead of the crucial encounter against England, he said, "I am very happy for Luis. He is a great person. As a teacher, he always helped me. He deserves everything he has achieved. Whether I call him or not depends on the match result. If we win, I might not call, but if we lose, I might call Luis to ask for some advice. However, I hope I won't need to call him before the final."

Spain has already booked their ticket to the final. Now it remains to be seen whether De la Fuente will face his pupil Scaloni's Argentina, or if he will have to contend with England. On Wednesday night at the Atlanta Stadium, England and Argentina will battle it out for the last remaining spot in the final. The eyes of football fans are now on Atlanta—who will be Spain's opponent?