Luis de la Fuente told Spain’s right side to attack Nuno Mendes’ lane. Mendes still slowed Lamine Yamal until his 56th-minute injury, after which Spain’s right-side threat grew and Mikel Merino scored the 91st-minute winner.

In a pre-match press conference, the first question framed Portugal’s left as Spain’s selection problem. ¹ Nuno Mendes and Rafael Leão could make De la Fuente change his right-back after Spain’s previous win over Austria. De la Fuente moved the burden back onto Portugal.

De la Fuente said Spain would track Portugal without the ball, then added that he wanted Portugal “more occupied with our right side,” whether Marcos, Pedro, Lamine, or someone else played there. ²

Spain’s right flank carried an attacking assignment. De la Fuente later said Lamine did not need to be asked for extra work because he already worked, then suggested he should make the defender suffer more so the defender stayed aware of him.

Why Mendes forced the question

Nuno Mendes had earned the question a year earlier. UEFA’s tactical review of the 2025 Nations League final found that Mendes kept Lamine off the ball, scored Portugal’s first goal, then beat him in a 1v1 before supplying Cristiano Ronaldo’s equaliser. ³

Mendes’ threat was not a one-match label. He finished the tournament with 948 minutes, six assists, one goal, and a technical-observer assessment that he was “incredible offensively and defensively.” ⁴

The 2025 final showed why the memory was awkward for Spain. Spain had 61 percent possession, 16 shots, and 2.14 xG, yet Portugal still won the shootout after a 2-2 draw. ⁵ Spain’s territorial control did not solve the flank problem.

De la Fuente’s plan made sense only if the rest of Spain accepted the cover job. He said any suffering would be team-wide, because balance came from “every zone” of the team. He also said he liked full-backs with range and presence near the opposition box, which explains why caution was not the default response to Mendes.

Mendes framed the same pressure exchange from the other side. He said stopping the ball reaching Lamine would be “a good start,” while adding that the collective game would matter more than the individual duel. ⁶

What the rematch proved

The box score confirmed the live version of De la Fuente’s named flank. ⁷ Pedro Porro started at right-back for Spain, Lamine started on the right wing, and Mendes started at left-back for Portugal before leaving for Nélson Semedo in the 56th minute.

The 1-0 scoreline came from Mikel Merino in the 91st minute off Ferran Torres’ assist. Spain’s edge came through territorial control, patience, and substitutes. Lamine’s individual threat grew after Mendes left.

Jonathan Wilson’s match report adds the important caveat. He wrote that Mendes had “a fine game” and again shut down Lamine for much of it, then said the Barcelona winger exerted more influence after Mendes overstretched blocking his shot and had to go off. ¹⁰

The coaching read

De la Fuente joined three jobs in one lane. Lamine had to threaten. Porro had to support and still track Mendes. Spain’s midfield and centre-backs had to absorb the moments when Portugal carried the ball back the other way.

The observable check is straightforward. Watch the moment the opposing full-back steps forward. If the winger can receive behind him and a midfielder is already covering the counter lane, the attack protects the flank. If the pass into the winger is blocked or the cover is late, the full-back has been released instead.

Spain made Portugal account for the right side, controlled the better chances, and advanced. Mendes limited Lamine while he was fit, and Spain’s right-side threat grew only after his injury changed the matchup in the 56th minute.