On a night when Spain finally silenced their doubters with a clinical 3. 0 dismantling of Ralf Rangnick's Austria in the World Cup Round of 32, Luis d...
On a night when Spain finally silenced their doubters with a clinical 3. 0 dismantling of Ralf Rangnick's Austria in the World Cup Round of 32, Luis de la Fuente seemed almost reluctant to enjoy the moment. That is the mark of a manager who knows the margins at this level are razor thin. La Roja were devastating in transition, ruthless in front of goal, and for long stretches, they made a normally stubborn Austrian side look like a team still searching for its first real chance. But the Spanish boss was quick to jab a finger at an area that still gnaws at him.Let us be clear: this was not your typical Spanish performance of old, the kind that passes the ball to death without ever really wounding the opponent. No, this was a team that used its possession as a weapon to draw Austria out and then struck with venom. The low block that Rangnick's men deployed for the opening twenty minutes was picked apart by a combination of direct running from wide areas and clever movement in the channels. So where exactly does de la Fuente see the problem He sees a vulnerability in Spain's own defensive shape when they lose the ball high up the pitch.In his post match remarks to GoalZaza, the manager made it clear that while he is thrilled with the attacking output, the defensive structure during the transitional moments remains a work in progress. Austria, to their credit, did carve out two or three openings on the break that would have been punished by a side with more composure in the final third. It is a familiar bugbear for Spain watchers: a high defensive line that can be caught out if the midfield fails to press with perfect synchronisation. Against a top drawer opponent in the quarter finals, that could be fatal. De la Fuente knows it, and he is not afraid to say it.For the supporters who have watched Spain stumble in recent tournaments, this performance was a tonic. But the good manager is right to keep his feet on the ground. There is a fine line between brave and reckless, and Spain danced on it several times against Austria. The clinical finishing papered over the cracks, but the cracks are still there. A more ruthless striker, a quicker transition, and suddenly those little gaps in the defensive line become yawning chasms. That is the next step for this team: to marry the swagger of their attacking play with the security of a backline that never truly feels threatened.For now, though, let us not be churlish. Spain are through, they are scoring goals, and they have a manager who sees the game with a cold, analytical eye rather than just a warm heart. That combination, if it can be perfected, might just take them all the way. But de la Fuente's warning to his own squad is the kind of honest self assessment that separates contenders from pretenders. The real tests are still to come.
