Germany coach Joachim Low has said he was ‘shocked’ by the decision to sack Julen Lopetegui as Spain head coach
“It was a surprise for me. This decision was a very serious shock, it can lead to disenchantment within the [Spanish] team. As far as I remember, Hierro [the newly appointed Spain head coach] has coaching experience, he was an assistant coach at Real Madrid,” Low told journalists.
He added that Spain still remained a force to be reckoned with at the World Cup.
“We should remember that Spain is a team that has its own philosophy, there are players of the strongest clubs there. Spain have been playing at a very high level for many years. I think Spanish footballers are unlikely to lose their class and style because of what has happened,” Low said.
Earlier on Wednesday, Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) President Luis Rubiales announced at a press conference that Lopetegui had been sacked as Spain head coach after agreeing to join Real Madrid after the World Cup, but without giving the RFEF any prior notification.
Spain’s sporting director Fernando Hierro has been appointed the national team’s new head coach.
Russia will host its first World Cup from June 14 to July 15, the matches will take place at 12 stadiums in 11 cities across the country. Spain will face Portugal, Morocco and Iran in Group B.