How quickly life changes. On Tuesday evening Julen Lopetegui was in Russia preparing Spain for their World Cup opener against Portugal today. Yesterday he was at the Bernabeu stadium being introduced to the Spanish media as Real Madrid’s new coach.
Real president Florentino Perez was in no mood to draw a line under the furore, describing Lopetegui’s sacking as “an absurd reaction of misunderstanding and pride”, and insisting that the club had acted with transparency in their approach to Lopetegui.
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“There was no reason at all why Julen Lopetegui should not have been on the Spain national team bench,” said Perez. “We feel for him that he could not achieve his great goal of success with his country.”
Now it’s up to his successor, Fernando Hierro, to restore order to the Spanish camp, but what about their opponents this evening in Sochi? Barely a word has been said about Portugal who, lest one forgets, are the reigning European champions.
What must they have thought as they watched this week’s sensational events in the Spanish squad? Coach Fernando Santos was giving little away when he faced the press yesterday.
“[Tonight] is the opening game for two great sides with great players, we will have Fernando Hierro against us, I wish him luck, but not too much against us,” said Santos, who guided Portugal to victory over France in the Euro 2016 final. “It is a game between two great sides, who both think they can win.”
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Today’s World Cup group B fixtures
Portugal vs. Spain at Fisht Stadium, Sochi (7pm, BBC One)
Morocco vs. Iran at the Saint Petersburg Stadium, St Petersburg (4pm, ITV)
Portugal’s form has been patchy going in to the World Cup, with a 3-0 defeat to Algeria preceded by a goalless stalemate against Belgium and a 2-2 draw versus Tunisia.
Asked if he expected any change in approach from their opponents in the wake of Lopetegui’s sacking, Santos replied: “Spain has played the same way for ten years. I don’t think there will be any surprises, what is important is the players.”
Portugal have never beaten Spain during those ten years, but Santos gave short shrift to a question about that unwanted record, saying: “History is history and the present is now.”
It was a similar message from Portuguese midfielder Joao Moutinho, who said he didn’t believe the upheaval would have a negative impact on Spain.
“Spain have prepared well and have been working for a few weeks, so it won’t really alter what they have been doing in preparation and qualifying games,” he said. “We expect to face a strong side and a united one.”
Moutinho and his midfield partner William Carvalho will be central to Portugal’s chances this evening in Sochi, and if they can contain the creativity of Andres Iniesta and Isco then Cristiano Ronaldo will focus on getting the better of Real Madrid teammate Sergio Ramos.
Ronaldo has failed to score in four appearances against Spain, and Ramos will look to make that five.
Portugal have no injury concerns, but Spain are waiting to see if Daniel Carvajal’s hamstring passes a fitness test. If it doesn’t, Alvaro Odriozola will step in at right back.
Before Portugal take on Spain this evening, Morocco and Iran will kick off the group B matches with a clash at the Saint Petersburg Stadium at 4pm.
Morocco full-back Nabil Dirar missed the warm-up matches against Slovakia and Estonia with an injury, but hopes to be fit for the big game, the BBC reports.
Iran midfielder Saeid Ezatolahi is suspended and there are injury concerns over striker Mehdi Taremi and midfielder Askhan Dejagah.
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