Spain manager Luis de la Fuente – “The mask limits you, Kylian Mbappe is at 80%”

Spain manager Luis de la Fuente has declared that his Spain side will not be facing Kylian Mbappe at full tilt on Tuesday, due to his broken nose. The Real Madrid forward has been playing with a mask on in the knockout stages, and is yet to score from open play – de la Fuente believes it is affecting his game.

Speaking with Cadena Cope on Sunday night, de la Fuente was asked whether he would be coming up with a specific plan to stop Mbappe on Tuesday night.

“I have never done it and I believe in the specific positions that each player knows how to master, except in specific situations. But normally, I like all players to play in the position in which I think they perform most easily.”

La Roja’s coach also explained that having had defender Robin Le Normand playing with a similar mask at one stage, he felt that Mbappe’s performances were suffering as a result.

“People have to know that a mask like this is quite limiting. We experienced a similar situation with Le Normand, he was not breathing normally, he got very tired and even had some muscle problems. It limits you, but in any case Mbappe at 80% is a lot of Mbappe, although it is true that his best version has not yet been seen and he has enormous potential.”

Of course the number one plan to combat Mbappe would have been Dani Carvajal, but the Real Madrid right-back is suspended after being sent off late on against Germany. It leaves de la Fuente with a decision to make at right-back. Jesus Navas is the obviously replacement, while Nacho Fernandez could play there too. It has even been suggested that Marc Cucurella could switch sides.

De la Fuente was asked whether he would be comfortable with the 38-year-old Navas going up against Mbappe.

“It’s not that I trust Jesus Navas, it’s that Jesus Navas is the best. He has the legs to go on for a while, he is a fantastic player and I have total and absolute confidence in him. I still don’t know if he will play or not, but he is very prepared. And Mbappe is a player who has the ability to overwhelm like Dembele or Barcola and that is solved with help and cover by a teammate. It is the way that occurs to me now to try to stop those players when they have the ball. And when we have it, we will try to benefit from their weak points, which may be that defensive phase.”

Going into the Euro 2024 semi-final, Spain have the chance to make a first major final since Euro 2012, when they last won a major competition. La Roja have experience from their Nations League win last year under de la Fuente, but at the same time, France are vastly experienced, having been to the semi-finals in the Euros and World Cup in three of the last four tournaments.