World Cup axe shock

ZINEDINE ZIDANE stood alone on the Wembley touchline, humiliated and beaten.

One of Real Madrid’s all-time greats, history maker and club legend was watching his reputation being torn apart.

Last week, Zidane was voted FIFA’s coach of the year. This week, Zidane (above) is facing serious doubts about his future at the Bernabeu. The Spanish giants never let sentiment or past achievements get in the way. They just sack the manager first – and ask questions later.

This was very much Tottenham’s night, a brilliant victory when they proved themselves on the Champions League stage. A statement of intent for Mauricio Pochettino and his players.

But it was also perhaps the match which could spell the end for Zidane’s glorious reign as king of the Bernabeu. A legend as a player, winner as a manager and now feeling the heat for the first time at the club where he has always been worshipped as a footballing God.

Real Madrid president Florentino Perez looked on stony-faced as the Spanish giants were picked apart by Spurs, ruthlessly and hopelessly exposed by their energy, pace and enthusiasm.

Zidane will fear the worst because it was not just a one-off freak result but comes after a disastrous start to the campaign which has left them eight points behind leaders Barcelona in La Liga.

They were beaten by newly-promoted Girona last weekend and yet the Champions League has always been their salvation. Whatever has been going on domestically, they have delivered in Europe.

Real Madrid are, after all, the reigning champions, having won the Champions League in three of the last four years.

At times, they looked very good. Cristiano Ronaldo showed flashes of brilliance and scored, while Luka Modric strung nice passes together.

But when Tottenham took the lead and turned up the pressure, Real crumbled. They simply had no answer and their big-name players barely put up a fight.

One of Europe’s super powers were made to look very ordinary. FA chiefs are causing fury by making staff behind England Under-17’s World Cup glory reapply for their jobs.

Despite unprecedented success at youth level in the past 12 months, a shake-up which could see key coaches lose their jobs will still go ahead.

Among those affected is Talent Identification manager Nick Levett, credited with bringing through young players.

England Under-20s are also world champions and the under-19s won the Euros. It is understood some staff are so upset they have decided to quit.