Spain coach De la Fuente: Facing Portugal and Ronaldo 'a blessing'
Spain's coach Luis de la Fuente walks across the pitch after winning the UEFA Euro 2024 final soccer match against England at the Olympic Stadium. Michael Kappeler/dpa
Spain coach Luis de la Fuente is anticipating Sunday's Nations League final against Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal where they can claim a third title in as many years.
Spain are defending champions from their 2023 success and also won Euro 2024.
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They are considered favourites on Sunday but De la Fuente also voiced a lot of praise for Portugal and especially their 40-year-old captain Ronaldo on Saturday.
"It's a blessing to face Portugal and a footballer who has shaped an era and a legacy," De la Fuente said.
The match is also billed as a duel of the generations between Ronaldo and Spain's 17-year old Lamine Yamal.
De La Fuente reiterated that Yamal is completely relaxed among all the hype around him, saying: "He deals with it in a completely normal way. That makes him so special."
Ronaldo scored Portugal's 2-1 winner in Wednesday's semi-final, and Yamal got a brace in Spain's epic 5-4 over France the next day.
De la Fuente said he would prefer his team to concede fewer goals in general but hailed the semi-final game as "historic" and "a homage to football."
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