New Delhi, June 26 -- Spain coach Luis de la Fuente didn't hide his admiration for Uruguay's Marcelo Bielsa ahead of the nation's decisive World Cup match on Friday.

The game in Guadalajara is one of the most anticipated of the group stage, with European champion Spain and South American powerhouse Uruguay fighting for first place in Group H. Uruguay will likely face elimination if it loses at Guadalajara Stadium.

De la Fuente said he knows Bielsa well, having spent time watching him train at Athletic Bilbao in the early 2010s. De la Fuente was in the early stages of his coaching career at the time and spent the time with Bielsa just before he took over the helm of Spain's youth squads.

"I'm an admirer," De la Fuente said about Bielsa ...