With the curtain set to fall on the 2023-24 season after next weekend’s Champions League final, attention is starting to turn towards this summer’s European Championship which kicks off in Germany on June 14.
Beaten World Cup finalists France, hosts Germany, Gareth Southgate’s Three Lions and 2016 winners Portugal are among the early favourites to win the competition.
Spain have been handed a testing group, with holders Italy, Croatia and Albania, but De la Fuente has full faith in his side and believes La Roja can match the three main favourites.
In an extensive interview with Movistar Plus on Thursday evening, the Spain boss said: ‘Spain would be first place in terms of my favourite, number one.
‘We are not inferior to anyone, we are there in contention.
‘Obviously who doesn’t rate England, Portugal and France? But they are different [from us].
‘Maybe we don’t have as many individual stars – though we still have very good players – but we are stronger as a team.
‘I think we are very dangerous for everyone. Other teams have players at an advanced level, but we are also a top team.’
On whether he fears coming up against France star Kylian Mbappe, he replied: ‘If it’s not Mbappe we come up against then it will be [Harry] Kane or Cristiano [Ronaldo]. All the teams have great players. But they all have weaknesses.’
De la Fuente also picked out England midfielder Jude Bellingham as his Ballon d’Or pick, with the 20-year-old having top-scored for Real Madrid with 19 goals in just 27 La Liga appearances en route to the title.
‘He is a player who is doing really, really well,’ explained the Spain boss.
‘It is a subjective view, of course, but I really like Bellingham’s style. I like that type of footballer, his power.’
Asked directly if Bellingham is the best player in the world right now, he replied: ‘I think so. If I had to vote now I would vote for him as the best in the world.’
If both Spain and England win their respective groups they will be placed in opposite halves of the knockout draw and will not face each other until the final in Berlin on July 14.