Spain must live up to high expectations: De la Fuente

"We're continuing to grow under pressure; I love that high expectations are placed on us," Spain coach Luis de la Fuente declared ahead of their Round of 32 encounter with Austria on Friday. 

"Now it's up to us to live up to those expectations -- because obviously there's no margin for error now; we have to win the next match," he added.

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Starting the FIFA World Cup 2026 with a goalless draw against Cape Verde certainly wasn't part of La Roja's plan, but his squad has grown into this tournament step by step, following up on disappointment with a convincing victory over Saudi Arabia before seeing off Uruguay. 

The next step is a meeting with Austria in Los Angeles.

"It's a process, a path we have to travel," De la Fuente continued. "The competition is different, the opponents are different, there are different styles of football, and you have to improve and make progress.

"Discipline, strength, physical power, aerial play -- they have always been a hallmark of the Austrian school. But with [Ralf Rangnick], they've taken it a step further," De la Fuente shared about their next opponent. "Now they're pressing higher up the field and are applying more intense defensive pressure. They have the players to do it, and they've hit the right note, playing a style that suits them very well and that they’re enjoying."

One thing is clear: Spain are seeing this first knockout encounter as a step on the ladder leading towards the World Cup final on 19 July. "It's normal to hold us to high standards -- we set even higher ones for ourselves," De la Fuente said about the expectations placed on him and his team.

"We're competitors, we want to improve every day. When you face an opponent who's also top-tier, then everything gets harder. It's very difficult to always perform at your best when you're also up against a great opponent. But, then, that's the goal -- it's what would bring out the best in us."

With the level of competition rising with every stage of the tournament, Spain are enjoying the increased challenge they’re up against now that every game has to have a winner.

Their next test against Austria's aggression, determination, and incredible fighting spirit that doesn't let them give up even after being dealt a huge blow -- as was seen in their last group stage match against Algeria -- is a welcome one, with Spain ready to rise to the challenge and find small margins to pull of the victory.

"On equal footing, whoever is capable of controlling the situations when moments arise is closer to winning. If it challenges us, I think that’s fantastic."