Spain has gone 33 games unbeaten and has met opponents of all kinds along the way. That is why defender Aymeric Laporte is not concerned about what Marcelo Bielsa’s Uruguay could bring to the World Cup Group H match.
The centre-back said Spain’s focus must remain on itself as the country prepares to face a Uruguayan side that is playing for everything in a Group H where Spain has the advantage. The European champions lead with four points, two ahead of Uruguay and Cape Verde, while Saudi Arabia is at the bottom on one.
“We have played 33 games without losing, teams have played against us in every possible way,” Laporte told reporters at Spain’s training camp in Chattanooga on Wednesday. «It depends a lot on us, on how we play. When we are in shape, it is very difficult to beat us.»
Laporte said Spain understood that Uruguay would throw everything at them on Friday.
“We are fully aware that they will pull out all the stops, just as we would if we were in their position,” he said. «But it’s up to us; we know what we have to do. We’ll both do everything we can.»
Spain were criticized after a sub-par performance in a goalless draw against Cape Verde, and Laporte said the players shared that frustration.
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“We weren’t happy internally either,” he said. «We are the ones who want to win the most, especially against a team that should have been weaker – or is weaker. But either way, it’s understandable. We also get frustrated when things don’t go our way.»
But Laporte said Spain’s second match, a 4-0 thrashing of Saudi Arabia, was much closer to true standard.
“What we saw in the second game is more representative of us,” he said. «But in the first we had possession and missed the goal.»
Published on June 25, 2026
