Luis de la Fuente's Spain edge closer to historic achievement.

They seek to join an elite group as only the fourth side to claim both the World Cup and European Championship simultaneously, matching their 2010 predecessors along with France in 2000 and West Germany in 1974.

De la Fuente enters his fourth year leading Spain after securing the Euros two years prior and steering the side into a quarter-final versus Belgium on Friday, with France awaiting the victor.

He has suffered just three defeats since assuming the role in January 2023 and boasts an unbeaten streak across 35 matches.

Some managers construct squads via schemes while others focus on individuals; De la Fuente blends both approaches effectively.

Beyond any tactical outlook, his distinction stems from a deeper grasp of human dynamics.

His approach centers on ball retention with options, yet he has also fostered a strong team ethos.

De la Fuente's achievements with Spain stem from years of service inside the national federation and his coaching duties there since 2013, where he has molded talents and reinforced core principles.

He has helped forge a shared sense of purpose that stands out clearly, a notable accomplishment for any national setup.

Central to De la Fuente's outlook is the belief that football thrives as a collective effort shaped by strong characters.

Not merely in a vague ethical way, though faith-based principles and practical morals inform his path, but in sporting terms: unselfish, encouraging, focused, reliable and ready to put the group first.

He often returns to this notion, surprised that it seems novel to others. "Those of us who have been in a locker room know what it means to be a good person," he noted in a private discussion before facing Belgium.

"Nearly every group has seen the reverse, the individual who upsets balance and prioritizes personal gain."

At 65, De la Fuente has witnessed enough team environments to recognize that skill without generosity rarely endures. His Spain rests on contributors who offer support ahead of personal reward.

Spain's approach has long depended on players who grasp the game as a unit. The movement, control and positioning reflect technical skill but also interpersonal awareness.

Every side remaining in this World Cup shares one trait: a defined vision.

National squads lack time to develop the layered systems seen at club level, so the core message must stay straightforward and consistent.

Here Spain hold an edge, as their footballing character has grown across many years.

Players and staff earn selection by aligning with that vision rather than reshaping it. This base has allowed steady evolution of their methods.

Some suggest an advantage over national teams launching fresh initiatives under new leadership.

De la Fuente has taken on this established character, and echoing Pep Guardiola's remarks on Johan Cruyff, he "has not constructed the cathedral, he simply refreshes it occasionally".

The Spain coach has introduced refinements: greater flexibility, added options, smoother shifts in play, fresh threats near goal and improved structure.

Spain remain identifiable, still "the simplest team to read", as a Portugal staff member observed after their round-of-16 exit, yet "the toughest to overcome."

He understands these players from a decade of youth-level work together.

His choices on the sideline draw from that shared history. His team reviews each game thoroughly to identify needed tweaks.

Against Cape Verde, Spain missed precision in distribution. Against Saudi Arabia, the flow returned.

Versus Uruguay, he recalled past losses when drawn into mind games and disorder, so he stressed composure, focus and emotional steadiness.

De la Fuente acknowledges that in prior seasons he might have responded more instinctively.

He noted: "Time has shown me how to handle these moments repeatedly. I have faced such contests and often come up short. Why? Because we failed to manage certain styles of game."

"Thus, when an opponent unsettles you, pulls you from your rhythm or breaks concentration, play stops and patterns shift."

This has shown him that Spain falter when they stray from their core style.

His press briefings mirror these principles. He readies them with input from Aitor Karanka, the federation's director of football, media staff and psychologist Javier Lopez Vallejo, a former player, yet adapts as needed.

He speaks openly and uses journalists' names, having learned at home that "respect starts by acknowledging the individual before you".

He meets eyes and engages directly, insisting these habits are genuine rather than tactics.

And what about Lamine Yamal, the standout whose image graces every promotion and whose gifts have already stirred global attention? Guiding him ranks among De la Fuente's trickiest duties. How does he approach it?

He said: "Mainly by remaining composed and building his assurance, since we understand Lamine's background (two months sidelined before linking up with Spain this summer) and though his condition is not yet complete, we also knew our schedule for this stage.

"This is where we hoped to see him, and where he hopes to see himself, and he is now fully set on claiming this World Cup as his own."

Yet De la Fuente recognizes that true success grows over time through development.

That is why the Portugal encounter stood, in his view, as Lamine's most significant outing. Not for flashy moments with the ball, but for tireless effort off it.

"This is his time," De la Fuente says. "Not the time to net 10 goals, but the time to deliver when it matters most.

"In my view of the game, achievement arrives with a strong side. Add exceptional individuals and you nearly reach the ideal, yet that remains the sole route to results."

His respect for players such as Mikel Oyarzabal follows the same thinking. Oyarzabal ranks, to him, among the world's top five centre-forwards.

"He is a player who, under different conditions, would already be known globally as elite, which he is in my opinion, and recognition is growing, though it should have come sooner," said De la Fuente.

Consistency marks every part of De la Fuente's routine, including daily personal training to maintain fitness.

"Yes, it is a way of life," he said. "The key element is steadiness. I was always raised to value discipline and routine.

"I am relentless, my friends used to say I never stop. Once I commit to a goal, I keep pushing forward."

One aim occupies his thoughts at present.