Nations League gaining prestige, says Spain's De la Fuente ahead of final

VIDEO SHOWS: SPAIN TRAINING AND PRESS CONFERENCE COMMENTS FROM HEAD COACH, LUIS DE LA FUENTE, AHEAD OF UEFA NATIONS LEAGUE FINAL AGAINST PORTUGAL

RESENDING WITH NEW THUMBNAIL

SHOWS: MUNICH, GERMANY (JUNE 7, 2025) (REUTERS - Access all)

1. SPAIN COACH, LUIS DE LA FUENTE, ARRIVING AT PRESS CONFERENCE

2. START OF PRESS CONFERENCE

3. (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) SPAIN COACH, LUIS DE LA FUENTE, SAYING:

"So now you think it’s important, yeah? Simply put, we’re treating it very professionally. We knew how hard this competition was from the moment it started. And there’s facts to back that up. Whenever you have a competition with teams this good… I was reading in the media today that we are four of the best fives national teams in the European rankings. Three World Cup winners a team that’s been European champion. It’s almost impossible to have four world champions in the semi-finals. It’s almost impossible to have a bracket of national teams as powerful. I’ve said it many times before but this is a really tough tournament. It’s demanding. It’s beautiful. And like everything in life, it will gain more prestige as time goes by. So a few years from now I’ll be saying ’Oh so now you think it’s important’."

4. CAMERA FILMING DE LA FUENTE

5. (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) SPAIN COACH, LUIS DE LA FUENTE, SAYING:

"He transmits calmness and tranquillity. He’s  a special person. What would be a highly stressful situation for other people, he approaches with such confidence, surety and and tranquillity. And why? Because internally he controls those situations so well. I insist, other people would need to be so focused but it comes so naturally to him. Meeting the demands of any given match and resolving any problems or issues that may arise. It’s so natural and normal for him. That’s what makes him so special."

6. MEDIA

7. (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) SPAIN COACH, LUIS DE LA FUENTE, ON CRISTIANO RONALDO, SAYING:

"Ronaldo has my complete admiration. He’s a role model in everything, both as footballer and as a person. He’s brilliant at everything he does. I love his approach to life. And as for Portugal, they’re a team full of players with lots of international experience. To name just a few, Bruno Fernandes, (Francisco) Conceicao, (Francisco) Trincao. They’re exceptional footballers."

8. PRESS CONFERENCE ONGOING

9. (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) SPAIN COACH, LUIS DE LA FUENTE, ON CRISTIANO RONALDO, SAYING:

"He’s a footballer who’s a legend and a role model. He has the values I like: his ability to overcome adversity, his strength, how hard he works and his willingness to make sacrifices. He gets better every day and he never gives up. He’s a role model, and not just for youngsters but lots of people. And we’re very lucky to play such a talented Portugal side led by a footballer who’s defined an era. He’s left an indelible mark on the game. I really appreciate his words and I hope we can put on a great show tomorrow."

10. DE LA FUENTE IN VIEWFINDER

11. VARIOUS OF LAMINE YAMAL AT SPAIN TRAINING

12. SPAIN GOALKEEPER, UNAI SIMON, RUBBING HIS GLOVES ON PITCH

13. PLAYERS IN GROUPS FOR RONDO DRILL

14. SIMON IN THE MIDDLE FOR RONDO DRILL

15. WIDE OF RONDO DRILL

16. DE LA FUENTE TALKING TO MEMBER OF COACHING STAFF

17. YAMAL AND NICO WILLIAMS DURING RONDO DRILL

18. RONDO DRILL

19. YAMAL AND DANI OLMO DURING RONDO DRILL

20. WIDE OF RONDO

21. YAMAL AND VIVIAN HEADING BALL DURING RONDO

22. RONDO DRILL

23. PEDRI, ROBIN LE NORMAND, YAMAL AND SIMON DURING RONDO

24. DE LA FUENTE TALKING TO MEMBER OF COACHING STAFF

25. RONDO DRILL

26. MARC CUCURELLA IN THE MIDDLE FOR RONDO DRILL

27. DE LA FUENTE TALKING TO MEMBER OF COACHING STAFF

28. CUCURELLA IN THE MIDDLE FOR RONDO DRILL

29. FOOTBALLS

30. CUCURELLA IN THE MIDDLE FOR RONDO DRILL

31. DE LA FUENTE LAYING OUT CONES

32. TRAINING ONGOING

STORY: Spain head coach Luis de la Fuente says the Nations League is gaining prestige ahead of Sunday's (June 8) final against Portugal in Munich.

"It's almost impossible to have bracket of national teams as good as this", said the 63-year-old at a news conference on Saturday.

"We knew how hard this competition was from the moment it started. But like everything in life, it will gain more prestige as time goes by", he added.

The European champions advanced past France in a 5-4 thriller on Thursday while Portugal won their semi-final 2-1 against tournament hosts Germany.

(Production: Ayhan Uyanik, Christine Uyanik, Conal Quinn)