Julen Lopetegui left Krasnodar through the back door, the same door through which the Spain team now leave Russia, albeit for very different reasons. The dismissal of the coach, once his signing with Real Madrid became official on June 12, started a World Cup that hasn’t had a happy ending.
The players were left as orphans of their leader, the boss who had led them to Russia with an almost perfect qualification campaign, playing good football and fully convinced that their path would lead them to a first World Cup in eight years. “I don’t regret anything,” said Luis Rubiales when asked for his thoughts after the elimination.
Rubiales was at the FIFA Congress in Moscow when he received the news about Lopetegui and immediately headed for Krasnodar with his mind made up. Lopetegui was history and that was what he told the players, who gave their opinion, but had no vote in the new president’s biggest decision since taking over. They were left alone, without the strategist and the man who they trusted.
Fernando Hierro is a person who puts the team ahead of everything and at that time, knew that he had to face and take on a challenge that wasn’t his, but one for the Spanish FA and the entire nation. He didn’t hesitate and knew that it may not be the correct decision but that he couldn’t turn his back on the team just days before the start of the tournament. Fernando Ruiz Hierro is a Spanish retired footballer who played as a central defender, sweeper or defensive midfielder, and is the coach of the Spain national team.
When he took his position on the bench and dreamed of glory, the team had no answer. “I’ve asked them to have fun, they’ll have a good time and enjoy the World Cup and we can all look each other in the face,” said Hierro. “That includes those who have played and those who have not.”