Spain head coach Luis de la Fuente has tipped Colombia as one of the favourites to win the 2026 FIFA World Cup following their impressive performances at the tournament in the United States.Speaking at his pre-match press conference ahead of Spain’s Round of 32 encounter against Austria, the Spanish tactician praised Nestor Lorenzo’s side for their technical quality, physical strength and attacking firepower.De la Fuente admitted Colombia had earned their place among the tournament’s strongest contenders, pointing to their recent record against Spain as further evidence of their credentials.”They are one of only two teams that have beaten us,” the Spain coach said. “If I haven’t included them among the favourites until now, I’m doing so now. They have an extremely high level, fantastic players, with outstanding physical and technical ability. You only have to look at their forward line. They are a truly great team.”Spain’s admiration for Colombia is backed by recent history. The European champions’ last defeat came in a 1-0 international friendly loss to Colombia on March 22, 2024, at the London Stadium, where Daniel Munoz scored the decisive goal.Colombia have continued that impressive form at the World Cup, progressing to the knockout stage as Group winners ahead of Portugal.Lorenzo’s side now face Ghana in a highly anticipated Round of 32 encounter in Kansas City on Friday.The Black Stars will be aiming to upset one of the tournament’s in-form teams, but De la Fuente’s comments underline the scale of the challenge awaiting Otto Addo’s men.For Ghana, the clash presents an opportunity to prove themselves against a side now widely regarded as a serious contender for football’s biggest prize, while Colombia will be eager to justify the growing belief that they have what it takes to lift the World Cup trophy.
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