Holding out for Hierro as Lopetegui exits big stage

JUST as Irish football will always have Saipan, the Spaniards will never forget Krasnodar. It was at their pre-finals base in Russia yesterday where Spanish coach Julen Lopetegui received his marching orders which revived echoes of Roy Keane’s World Cup expulsion by Mick McCarthy 16 years ago. When it looked like the countdown to these finals would avoid controversy, Spanish Federation president Luis Rubiales ensured his country would be at the centre of a World Cup tremor. Whether he was being courageous or careless, only time will tell. The Spanish Federation put country before club as they ushered Lopetegui out the door despite protestations from senior players to leave him in his post. For those journalists on the Spanish football beat, the news that Lopetegui — unbeaten in 20 games — had been sacked, ignited a frenzied reaction. Between social media, radio, TV and newspapers, every Spanish journalist on the World Cup beat went into overdrive. Everyone has a view, just as everyone did in Saipan. Unlike Saipan, though, the issue of the former manager’s dismissal will be parked when Spain play Portugal tomorrow. Instantly, the focus will turn to events on the pitch for which Fernando Hierro, the interim coach, will be held accountable. Improbably, Hierro has links to the death throes of that ’02 campaign for Ireland. For it was he who grabbed Niall Quinn’s shirt in the dying seconds of normal time as Ireland gasped for a late equaliser in Suwon. His actions prompted Anders Frisk to award a penalty, which Robbie Keane converted to send the last-16 tie into extra-time. For the subsequent penalty shoot-out, Keane went first and scored again. Who did the same for Spain? Hierro. The former centre-back can expect greater scrutiny in the coming days. If he wants advice on coping with the fallout, he can always give McCarthy a call. IRELAND international Greg Cunningham has signed for Cardiff City from Preston North End for a reported fee of £4million. The 27-year-old Galway-born left-back has agreed a three-year deal with the newly-promoted Bluebirds. GRAHAM BURKE has targeted promotion to the Premier League after completing a €300,000 transfer to Preston North End on a three-year deal. Burke will play his final game for Shamrock Rovers against Limerick tomorrow before making the move. FORMER Republic of Ireland Under 21 international Mikey Drennan has made his return to full-time football with Sligo Rovers after taking time out to deal with depression.