Soccer-Unbeaten Spain ready for whatever Uruguay throw at them, Laporte says


Soccer Football - FIFA World Cup 2026 - Spain Training - Baylor School, Chattanooga, Tennessee, U.S. - June 22, 2026 Spain's Aymeric Laporte during training IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters/Brett Davis

CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee, June 24 (Reuters) - Spain ⁠have gone 33 matches unbeaten and faced opponents of every kind ⁠along the way, which is why defender Aymeric Laporte is not ‌losing sleep over what Marcelo Bielsa's Uruguay might bring to their World Cup Group H clash.

The centre back said Spain's focus must remain on themselves as they prepare to face ​a Uruguay side playing for everything in a ⁠Group H in which Spain have ⁠the edge. The European champions lead with four points, two ahead of Uruguay ⁠and ‌Cape Verde, with Saudi Arabia bottom on one.

"We've gone 33 matches without losing, teams have played 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're playing. If we're on form, it's ⁠very difficult ​to beat us."

Laporte said Spain understood Uruguay would throw everything at them on Friday.

"We're well aware they'll be going all out, just as we would if we were ⁠in their position," he said. "But it's down to ​us; we know what we have to do. We'll both be going all out."

Spain were criticised after a below-par display in a goalless draw against Cape ⁠Verde, and Laporte said the players shared that frustration.

"We weren't happy internally either," he said. "We're the ones most keen to win, especially against a team that was supposed to be weaker – or is weaker. But anyway, it's understandable. ​We get frustrated too 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 their true level.

"What we saw ‌in the second match is more representative ​of us," he said. "But in the first one we had possession and lacked the goal."

(Reporting by Fernando Kallas, editing by Ed Osmond)

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