Surprised Spain fires coach just before Cup kickoff

With two days to go before Spain’s opening World Cup match, Julen Lopetegui was fired as national team coach after accepting a job to lead Real Madrid next season.

Spanish soccer federation president Luis Rubiales, who made the announcement Wednesday, said Fernando Hierro would replace Lopetegui as coach for Spain’s match against Portugal in Sochi, Russia, on Friday.

The 50-year-old Hierro, a former national team player and Real Madrid captain, will take on his first major coaching job. He had been acting as the federation’s sports director and was already in Russia with the national team.

“I couldn’t have said ‘no,’ I wouldn’t forgive myself,” Hierro said. “We still have a great opportunity in front of us. We have to remain positive and move forward.”

Rubiales said firing Lopetegui wasn’t the best solution but it was needed after the federation was caught by surprise by Madrid’s announcement. “The federation cannot be left out of a negotiation by one of its workers and be informed five minutes before the press release,” Rubiales said. “We have been compelled to act.”

Rubiales, who took over as president last month, said Lopetegui disrespected the federation’s values and it was the only decision he could make. “It’s a difficult situation, but we are not the ones who determined the action that had to be taken. The federation has its values and it has to maintain them,” Rubiales said. “It may look like a weakness now, but with time this will make us stronger.”

Rubiales said he tried to keep the Madrid announcement from being made public but it wasn’t possible. He said he had to make the decision — supported by the federation’s board of directors — to “send a clear message” that things have to be done properly.

There were reports that players tried to persuade Rubiales to change his mind and keep Lopetegui on the job.

“We are the national team. We represent this emblem, these colors, our fans, a country,” Spain captain Sergio Ramos wrote on Twitter. “Our responsibility and commitment is to you. Yesterday, today and tomorrow, together.”

Because he was fired, Madrid won’t have to pay the 2 million euros ($2.3 million) of the termination clause on Lopetegui’s contract. Rubiales said that although the federation’s financial situation was not ideal, money was “not the most important thing in a moment like this.”

Lopetegui did not attend the news conference but spoke briefly with reporters as he started his trip back home. “I am very sad, but we have a magnificent team and I hope we win the World Cup,” he said.

France: Striker Kylian Mbappe declared himself fit for the opening Group C game against Australia on Saturday after taking a knock to his ankle in training.

Mexico: Midfielder Diego Reyes has been ruled out of the World Cup with a right thigh injury. Reyes’ spot on the team will be taken by midfielder Erik Gutierrez.

FIFA: President Gianni Infantino will stand for re-election in June next year.