Spanish coach Hierro out after four-game Cup run
Fernando Hierro is out as coach of Spain’s national team after less than a month in charge and a disappointing four-game run at the World Cup.
The Spanish federation said Sunday that it wanted “to thank Fernando Hierro for his commitment and for assuming the responsibility of being in charge of the national team during some extraordinary situations.”
Hierro was promoted from sporting director to the top job two days before Spain opened the tournament against Portugal. New federation president Luis Rubiales was incensed that previous coach Julen Lopetegui had agreed to take charge at Real Madrid after the World Cup without giving the federation sufficient notice. Lopetegui was summarily fired on June 13 despite a 20-game unbeaten streak that had made Spain one of the favourites coming into the tournament.
Spain drew with Portugal and Morocco and beat Iran1-0 to win their group, then lost to Russia on penalties after a1-1draw in the round of 16, a match in which the Spanish were criticized for completing more than 1,000 passes without producing enough scoring chances.
The federation’s statement didn’t indicate whether Hierro left voluntarily but said he had declined to return to his previous role as sporting director. It called him “an extraordinary sportsman” and said the national team “would always be his home.”
Hierro, 50, is a former national team player and Real Madrid captain. VIDEO TROUBLE: FIFA said Sunday it is investigating a video of a Croatia player praising Ukraine after his team beat World Cup host Russia.
The video shows Croatia defender Domagoj Vida shouting “glory to Ukraine” before the retired ex-player Ognjen Vukojevic adds “this win is for Dynamo and Ukraine ... go Croatia.”
Vida and Vukojevic played together at Ukrainian club Dynamo Kyiv. Vida was a star of Croatia’s win on penalties over Russia on Saturday, scoring a header in extra time and converting a penalty in the shootout.
It wasn’t immediately clear whether they intended the video to be made public. Vida told the Russian newspaper Sport Express he meant the video to be a personal message. “It’s a joke for my friends from Dynamo Kyiv,” he was quoted as saying. “I love Russians and I love Ukrainians.”