Rubiales fires Julen Lopetegui and installs Fernando Hierro as Spain coach

The surprise for Real Madrid, announced on Tuesday afternoon by Los Blancos, precipitated the events and left the coach without a job to do at the World Cup, just 48 hours before the match against Portugal.

"We have been forced to do without Lopetegui," Rubiales noted after a tense morning in Krasnodar.

"I have spoken with the players, and I can guarantee that they will do everything they can with the new coaching staff, we are in a very difficult situation.

"I do not feel betrayed because Julen has done a relentless job, but we are forced to move on this because of how things have been done.

"He is a professional, but this is not correct and we can't look the other way.

"You can't do things like that, five minutes before it's official.

"I came from Moscow because this issue is more important, and we had to react.

"I saw it in the press, it had already happened, and because of my responsibility, I know that whatever I do, there will be criticism.

"Julen would have liked things to have been done differently.

"I don't have to judge Real Madrid, the one who brought the matter to him is responsible because things can't be done that way."

After further talks during Wednesday, Rubiales installed Fernando Hierro as coach to see them through the tournament.