Germany midfielder Toni Kroos has stated thathe does not believe Spain’s chances at the World Cup have been hurt by Julen Lopetegui’s dismissal two days before their opener against Portugal.
Lopetegui was hired by Real Madrid on Tuesday to replace Zinedine Zidane, and the Spanish football federation responded to his decision to leave the team following the World Cup by letting him go 24 hours before kickoff of the tournament and replacing him with Fernando Hierro.
“I really don’t think it will be much of a disadvantage for Spain. Sure, there are better things than losing your coach two days before your first match, but the automatisms, what you learned in training, will still be there.
“And I know Hierro pretty well. He was part of Ancelotti’s staff at Real. I really don’t think it will be much of a disadvantage,” Kroos said.