Not worried Spain were stretched
Group games are where you take risks but it will be different in the knockout rounds
which they will play against Melbourne City FC and Kerala Blasters on Friday and Saturday, I would like to assure them that you will see a different Spain in the knockout rounds. Group games are where you take some risks and I am sure Fernando Hierro will plan accordingly. Long story short, I’m not worried.
Hierro has been a mate for club and country and given the circumstances, I think he was the right choice. He has been part of the Spanish FA for long, knows this group really well and has vast experience as a player. I know he hasn’t coached at the highest level but wasn’t Zinedine Zidane given the responsibility of Real Madrid’s first team after being with their B team and didn’t Pep Guardiola take Barcelona to great heights after working in the third division? Also, Hierro has coached Oviedo in the Spanish second division and assisted Carlo Ancelotti at Real.
The circumstances around Julen Lopetegui’s dismissal were unusual and many teams would have been affected by it. But we have a very experienced group of players who knew exactly what they had to do in this situation.
Our golden generation was the one which won everything from 2008 to 2012. Some of them are still there and that gives me hope.
The 1998 and 2002 World Cupper is a La Liga ambassador and former striker who played 182 games for Real Madrid, scoring 72 goals. He scored 27 goals for Spain in 47 games.