Spain head coach Luis de la Fuente said his side is brimming with self-belief ahead of their FIFA World Cup round-of-32 clash against Austria in Los Angeles on Thursday, but cautioned that complacency in knockout football can be fatal. Spain finished top of Group H, while Austria advanced as Group J runners-up.

De la Fuente on Spain's Mindset

'The team knows where it is and feels very confident,' De la Fuente said at a pre-match press conference. 'When I speak about confidence, I mean self-belief, not arrogance. The players know who they are, how they feel and how they are playing.'

He added that Spain had grown sharper as the tournament progressed and were well-equipped for the demands of the knockout stage. 'We have the ability and the tools to face Austria, but we still have to prove it on the pitch,' he said.

Austria's Threat: High Press and Physical Duels

De la Fuente described Austria as a physically demanding opponent built around high pressing and man-to-man defending. 'They are a very aggressive and decisive team,' he said. 'They press high and look for individual duels, so we expect a lot of battles in both attack and defense.'

Spain, known for extended possession spells, will need to execute more crisply in tight areas. 'The key word is precision, especially in tight spaces,' De la Fuente said. 'In previous matches we sometimes lacked that accuracy, and our opponents are demanding more and more from us.'

Team News: Nico Williams Out, Yamal Fit

Winger Nico Williams will miss the Austria match due to physical discomfort but could return for the round of 16 if Spain advance. Yeremy Pino has been cleared after an injury scare in the previous game, having avoided a fracture. Lamine Yamal is fit and eager to feature, though De la Fuente declined to confirm whether the teenager would start or play the full 90 minutes.

Penalty Preparation and Spain's Knockout Record

Spain have also been practising penalties in training, acknowledging the possibility of a shootout. 'Taking a penalty is not random,' De la Fuente said. 'There are specialists, just as there are for free kicks and corners, but the final list will depend on who is still on the pitch at the end of the match.'

Notably, Spain's last World Cup knockout win came when they lifted the trophy in South Africa in 2010. They crashed out in the group stage in 2014 and were eliminated on penalties in the round of 16 in both 2018 and 2022 — a run the squad is determined to end.

'This team is used to breaking records,' De la Fuente said. 'Perhaps this will be the squad that ends that run. For now, our only focus is winning tomorrow's match.'

What's Next

Should Spain progress past Austria, they would advance to the round of 16, where Williams could potentially return. The match in Los Angeles represents Spain's most significant opportunity in over a decade to recapture the momentum of their 2010 World Cup-winning generation.