As Spain gear up for the second leg of their Nations League quarter-final against the Netherlands, coach Luis de la Fuente is beaming with pride. His squad, bursting with both seasoned champions and precocious young talent, continues to defy expectations — and the Spanish boss believes this is just the beginning.

Speaking on Saturday ahead of Sunday's showdown at Valencia's Mestalla stadium, De la Fuente hailed the depth of Spain's footballing pipeline, calling it "inexhaustible."

"For us, many of these breakthrough players are not surprising," said De la Fuente. "We know the quality of the raw material we have in this country."

Spain's 2-2 comeback draw in Rotterdam on Thursday stretched their unbeaten streak in competitive matches to 22, with 19-year-old Bournemouth defender Dean Huijsen — born in the Netherlands but committed to Spain — making a standout debut. With Barcelona's Pau Cubarsi sidelined due to an ankle injury, Real Madrid's uncapped Raul Asencio could join Huijsen in central defense in the second leg.

De la Fuente, however, is unfazed by the shifting personnel. "I can make two exceptional starting line-ups — that's the luck I have, and we have in this country," he said. "And not just these 26 players — we have many more who could be here."

Spain's success has been rooted in blending elite experience with youthful energy. The reigning Nations League and Euro 2024 champions are led by vibrant talents like Lamine Yamal and Nico Williams, who lit up Germany last summer. Yamal was rested early in Thursday's game, while Asencio was left out of the matchday squad — decisions De la Fuente sees as strategic, not political.

"There are 26 of us, only 23 can be in the squad. Raul understood it and is happy to be part of this experience."

Sunday's clash promises to be electric, with Valencia's Mestalla expected to be at full throttle. Over 20,000 fans showed up for an open training session on Friday, also donating generously to local flood recovery efforts.

"I don't think I've seen anything like it," said De la Fuente. "It will be a historic atmosphere."

The first leg in Rotterdam featured a pointed nod to the past — Dutch fans displayed an image of Robin van Persie's iconic header from the 2014 World Cup demolition of Spain. When asked what he hopes to see at Mestalla, De la Fuente grinned: "Three-nil on the scoreboard."

Dutch coach Ronald Koeman, who once led Valencia, acknowledged Spain's current superiority. "They're a little ahead — they're at home, and they're the reigning champions," he admitted.

Still, Koeman believes his team's first-leg performance sets the tone. "I hope we can play the same match, because we were at a great level."

Koeman also praised Huijsen, a player the Dutch hoped to claim. "He has a big future, as he showed the other day. He chose Spain — that was his right. But we have very good players too."

As Sunday approaches, one thing is clear: Spain's talent tap is far from dry — it's overflowing.