LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) — Spain coach Luis de la Fuente said on Friday that the World Cup semi-final with France would be “a final before the final”.

He said his side, who beat Belgium 2-1 in Friday’s quarter-final thanks to an 88th minute Mikel Merino winner in Los Angeles, were “capable of beating any team”, including tournament favourites France and red-hot forward Kylian Mbappe.

“It’s not an exaggeration to describe this match as a final before the final,” De la Fuente said at the post-match press conference.

“We’re one of the teams capable of reaching the final,” he said. “From now on, we are fully focused on France.”

“We’re aware of their immense potential, but we also know that we’re the only team to have beaten them in two semi-finals.”

Spain defeated the French in the Euro 2024 semi-finals on their way to becoming European champions and also in the 2005 Nations League semi-finals.

“The match will be more open than ever,” the coach said. “We will have to raise our level of play, and we’re going to give everything.

“The French are in great form, and we have different playing styles,” De la Fuente added.

“We have the greatest respect for our opponents, but we feel capable of beating any team.”