World Cup

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Attendance: 43,866

World Cup | Group Stage

Jun 15, 2018 at 7pm UK

Portugal
3-3
Spain

Ronaldo (4' pen., 44', 88')

FT(HT: 2-1)

Costa (24', 55'), Nacho (58')

Spain to sack Julen Lopetegui one day before World Cup?

By Barney Corkhill, Editor

Published: June 13 2018 | 09:23

Last updated: June 15 2018 | 06:42

Spain are reportedly considering sacking manager Julen Lopetegui just a day before the World Cup after the announcement that he will take over at Real Madrid.

Spain are reportedly considering sacking manager Julen Lopetegui just one day before the start of this summer's World Cup in Russia.

Lopetegui was yesterday confirmed as the new Real Madrid manager and will replace Zinedine Zidane at the helm of the 13-time European champions after the end of Spain's World Cup campaign.

However, the Spanish FA and its new president Luis Rubiales are understood to be furious with the way Lopetegui has handled the situation, prompting him to fly back from the FIFA congress in Moscow to Krasnodar, where the Spain team are based.

The Independent reports that they are considering a change of manager, with a press conference later today expected to clarify Lopetegui's position.

The 53-year-old is unbeaten in charge of Spain since taking over following their Euro 2016 exit, and La Roja are regarded as one of the favourites to lift the World Cup trophy in Russia this summer.

However, Rubiales reportedly feels betrayed after only finding out about Lopetegui's Madrid agreement five minutes before it was announced by Los Blancos.

Spain sporting director Fernando Hierro and Under-21 coach Albert Celades are regarded as the main candidates to take over should Lopetegui be sacked, although Rubiales may feel that it is too late to make a change considering Spain get their campaign underway against Iberian rivals Portugal in Sochi on Friday.