Spain boss hails Barcelona stars after World Cup triumph: ‘I’m particularly happy for him’

Spain boss hails Barcelona stars after World Cup triumph: ‘I’m particularly happy for him’ Spain head coach Luis de la Fuente has reserved special praise for Barcelona forwards Lamine Yamal and Ferran Torres following La Roja’s FIFA World Cup triumph, highlighting the pair’s contribution throughout the tournament. While Yamal continued to enhance his reputation as one of world football’s brightest young talents , Ferran Torres enjoyed a memorable ending to the competition by scoring the winning goal in the World Cup final against Argentina. Speaking to MARCA after Spain’s historic success, De la Fuente reflected on the collective spirit that carried his side to the title before singling out both Barcelona attackers for their performances. Luis de la Fuente delighted with Lamine Yamal’s growth When asked about Yamal’s importance to the squad, the Spain manager emphasised that the team’s success was built on unity rather than individual stars. “We said we’d faced Cristiano’s Portugal, Mbappé’s France, and were set to play against Messi’s Argentina… but they were up against the team of the 26. “To recall that famous phrase about the 300 Spartans… Well, we are the 26 Spaniards.” Luis de la Fuente has nothing but praise for Lamine Yamal. (Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images) Turning his attention to the Barcelona winger, De la Fuente was full of admiration for how the teenager handled the biggest tournament of his career. “Lamine is a footballer who has had an extraordinary experience and put in a fantastic performance.  “He’s matured enormously, worked hard for the team and has always put the collective good before his own interests. “He’s a great footballer, very young, who’s still developing, but this experience will make him even better in the future. “His development has gone according to plan. He was coming off a spell on the sidelines and has done a marvellous job.” Ferran Torres earns special recognition Ferran Torres scored the winning goal in the World Cup final. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images) De la Fuente also took time to defend Ferran Torres, who faced heavy criticism during much of the tournament before delivering when it mattered most. The Barcelona forward silenced many doubters by scoring the winning goal against Argentina in the final, and his manager believes that moment was a deserved reward for his perseverance. In a different interview with AS , De la Fuente said, “I try to be fair when I see malicious criticism; life gives you opportunities later on, which is why I’m particularly happy for Ferran.  “His story reminds me of Morata. In the face of injustice, he’s said: ‘Here I am’,” he concluded.