"You're going to tattoo my face? Yes! I'm not that ugly." Spanish coach responds to Cucurella's "victory pledge" with, "We must keep our promise."

*This content was translated by AI.

Luis de la Fuente (65), head coach of the Spanish national football team, humorously responded to Marc Cucurella's (28) pledge to get a "World Cup victory" tattoo on his body.

Spain's 'Marca' reported on the 20th (Korean time) that "Coach de la Fuente emphasized at the victory press conference that Cucurella must definitely fulfill his tattoo promise."

On this day, Spain defeated Argentina 1-0 in the 2026 FIFA North American World Cup final held at New York/New Jersey Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA. After a 0-0 draw through 90 minutes of regular time, Ferran Torres scored the winning goal in the first minute of extra time. This victory marked Spain's second World Cup title in history, coming 16 years after their triumph at the 2010 South Africa tournament.

Earlier, Cucurella had pledged that if Spain won the World Cup, he would get a tattoo of Coach de la Fuente's face on his body. When asked about this promise, Coach de la Fuente wittily replied, "If you make a promise, you must keep it. I'm not that ugly either."

He expressed deep pride in the team that secured the victory. Coach de la Fuente stated, "I am proud of the players who have upheld and developed our distinct philosophy," adding, "The players set an excellent example as one family, and together with this generation, we achieved everything we wanted."

He did not forget to show respect for the opposing team. Coach de la Fuente explained, "We were unable to decide the match early due to Emiliano Martínez's outstanding saves as Argentina's goalkeeper, but we were fully prepared to withstand the pressure of the final." He also comforted Argentine coach Lionel Scaloni, who was seen shedding tears after the defeat, saying, "We embraced him to offer comfort and gratitude. His achievements are miraculous."

Praise for individual players continued as well. The coach lauded Rodri, stating he deserves the Ballon d'Or, and praised Ferran Torres by saying, "Life is fair to those who work hard." Regarding Lamine Yamal, he evaluated that "he proved the value of the national team through his dedication to the team."

Finally, Coach de la Fuente concluded his victory remarks with, "Having won the 2023 Nations League, Euro 2024, and now this World Cup, we have reached the position we desired. We will think about the future later; for now, it is time to enjoy this unique moment."

Meanwhile, Spain allowed not a single shot on target against Argentina throughout the 90th minutes of regular time on this day, perfectly controlling 'the God of Football,' Lionel Messi. They secured the championship with Ferran Torres' dramatic winning goal in the first minute of extra time. Notably, they conceded only one goal throughout the entire tournament, setting a new record for the fewest goals conceded by a World Cup champion. Additionally, achieving an unbeaten run of eight matches (seven wins and one draw) alongside an unprecedented 38-match unbeaten streak in A-international matches, they demonstrated the overwhelming dominance of the 'Invincible Fleet.'

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*This content was translated by AI.