New boss shrugs off De Gea mistake

Trust has become the Spain camp’s buzzword following the shock pre-tournament sacking of coach Carlos Lopetegui with replacement Fernando Hierro the latest to use it to express his faith in David de Gea.

The Manchester United goalkeeper was at fault for the second goal of Cristiano Ronaldo’s hat-trick in the 3-3 draw with Portugal in Sochi in their Group B opener.

It was a rare error from the usually impeccable 27-year-old and Hierro, who stepped in when Lopetegui was sacked on the eve of the tournament for agreeing a deal to become Real Madridmanager, insistsitmakes no difference to him.

“I have 23 players with their own character and you cannot treat them all the same,” he said when asked what he had said to the goalkeeper ahead of the meeting with group leaders Iran.

“De Gea will play tomorrow, we trust him 100%. In the last couple of years he is one of the two or three best goalkeepers in the world.”

Iran’s former Real Madrid manager Carlos Queiroz was keen to put a positive spin on the situation his players are in.

“Playing against Spain we are in a winning situation because we will be better after the game,” he said. “It is a unique opportunity for our players to learn more about the game and be better.” Meanwhile, Andre Silva hopes to help Ronaldo in Portugal’s bid for a first group win against Morocco in Moscow. Silva, who came off the bench against Spain, could start at the Luzhniki Stadium, alongside the Real Madrid forward. “Playing next to him is a dream,” Silva said, according to A Bola newspaper. “He is the best in the world. I can say that makes things easier. “Things come out more natural, sometimes passes that could be more difficult he facilitates. We understand each other very well. It’s good to play alongside him. “I occupy spaces. In the movements, we open spaces for each other.” favourites with striker Silva Morocco, expects accepts for the but Morocco Group Portugal the AC B Milan to clash are be stubborn opponents. “There are no favourites and I do not think we are favourites for the World Cup,” Silva added. “We have to trust in ourselves. We will find a way. If we show all our collective and individual quality will go well.”