Spain are world's best, but coach preaches humility

Spain coach Luis de la Fuente has declared that his team are the best in the world, after they underlined their Euro 2024 title credentials by outclassing defending champions Italy in a 1-0 victory on June 20.

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The narrow win would have been far greater but for heroics from Italian goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma and missed chances, as Italy coach Luciano Spalletti admitted.

Spalletti attributed the defeat to his players' lack of freshness, but de la Fuente felt that did not give Spain enough credit.

"Football is not only about freshness and fitness levels, but also tactics and technique," he insisted.

"I think we were superior across the board from a footballing perspective. Perhaps it seemed like Italy played badly, but that's because we played very well." Spain's performance inevitably prompted questions about whether they can win the title.