Spain head coach Luis de la Fuente is preparing his European Championship-winning side for a World Cup campaign, emphasizing discipline and adherence to footballing legality.
Throughout the tournament, Argentina have faced accusations of employing disruptive tactics to influence referees and benefiting from a favorable draw that reduced travel and avoided harsh playing conditions.
De la Fuente stated that referees must not act passively when rules are broken and that boundaries of legality cannot be crossed.
He expressed confidence in the officials but stressed Spain must approach the match with a clear understanding of their required performance.
England and Egypt struggled to maintain composure under provocation, and De la Fuente acknowledged Spain must stay calm and committed to their footballing principles.
He warned that abandoning their philosophy would lead to difficulty, adding that the team thrives when true to its model and resistant to baiting.
Containing Lionel Messi remains a key challenge, though De la Fuente recalled a past youth match where Messi's side scored four times in 15 minutes after a marker was carded.
Argentina goalkeeper Emi Martinez dismissed suggestions of an easy route, noting Portugal were eliminated by Colombia before Switzerland defeated Colombia to set Argentina's path.
