The Spanish team closed its preparation for the World Cup with a victory (1-3) against Peru, a tournament to which it arrives among the favorites due to its status as current European champion and due to an unbeaten streak that reaches 26 months.
In total, there are 30 games since Luis de la Fuente’s team lost 0-1 to Colombia at Wembley in a friendly played on March 22, 2024.
Since then, seven draws and 23 victories for Spain. With a nuance, Portugal was able to beat Spain in the final of the 2025 Nations League, but they did so in the penalty shootout (5-4) after the 2-2 with which extra time ended.
A match in which Spain took the lead on two occasions, but after which it was not able to retain the title it achieved in 2023.
Against Portugal, the Spanish team played with a starting eleven with six players who will not repeat in the World Cup opener against Cape Verde on June 15. Two due to injury – Lamine Yamal and Nico Williams -, one because he is aiming for a substitute – Zubimendi, with Rodri starting -, and three who are not part of the World Cup squad – Mingueza, LeNormand and Huijsen -, three defenders.
And regarding the last defeat, 26 months ago, of the starting eleven only two players aim to repeat and another five are part of the list. A match against Colombia in which Luis de la Fuente did not bring out his gala eleven, leaving Lamine Yamal, Nico Williams, Rodri, Pedri, Fabián, Unai Simón on the bench… transcendental players.
Rotations worthy of a friendly that marked the second and last defeat of Luis de la Fuente’s time on the bench of the Spanish team. The first, in his second game.
2-0 in Scotland in a match in which he wanted to give opportunities to the majority of internationals from his first call-up and that provoked criticism that now remains a distant memory, even more so after winning the Euro Cup in 2024.
Victory that elevates Spain to be among the great favorites to fight for the World Cup, on its way to its second star after achieving the first 16 years ago, in South Africa.
A trip in which, since the defeat against Colombia, Spain has gone 30 games without losing with 81 goals for and 27 against.
