Ahead of Sunday’s World Cup final, Spain coach Luis de la Fuente has confirmed his squad will keep a close watch on Lionel Messi, though he has opted against utilizing a man-marking strategy. Drawing on his past experience managing Sevilla’s youth team, de la Fuente recalled a match against a young Messi where a dedicated marker failed to stop him, leading to four goals in the final quarter of the game. He noted that attempting to neutralize the 39-year-old Argentina captain with a single defender is ineffective.
De la Fuente praised Messi as a singular talent and a model athlete. The coach also addressed his rapport with Argentine manager Lionel Scaloni, describing him as a close friend and dismissing concerns that Argentina would use unsportsmanlike tactics. He emphasized that the match would be defined by high-level football rather than aggression.
Addressing the unique logistics of the final, the coach confirmed his team is prepared for an extended 30-minute half-time interval featuring an entertainment show. While unusual, de la Fuente suggested that such breaks, alongside mandatory hydration periods, may soon become standard in the sport’s evolving landscape.
