That’s it for today’s World Cup liveblog, which was far livelier than expected thanks to Spain’s decision to, y’know, sack their manager two days before their opening game. Scotland may not have qualified for the World Cup, but a former Hamilton Academical defender has turned the tournament on its head.
Russia 2018 officially kicks off tomorrow, with the hosts taking on Saudi Arabia at 4pm BST. Simon Burnton will be in charge of the liveblog from around 8am. Thanks for your company today, happy World Cup Eve!
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Today's World Cup headlines
- Spain sacked Julen Lopetegui after he agreed to join Real Madrid.
- Fernando Hierro has replaced him as caretaker manager.
- Canada, USA and Mexico will host the 2026 World Cup.
- Marcus Rashford missed England training with a slight knee strain.
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Let’s cook! And so to my stomach, which is rumbling with hunger after being tipped off about this little project. Sam, the head designer in our US office, and his girlfriend Shannon have cooked a meal for each of the 32 countries at the World Cup, and will be publishing recipes during the tournament. If you want to give your palate its very own Josimar moment, follow the blog here.
The Danish Smørrebrød looks magnificent.
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The actual football starts tomorrow. These are the fixtures for the first three days of Russia 2018 (all times BST)
Thursday
- Russia v Saudi Arabia (4pm)
Friday
- Egypt v Uruguay (1pm)
- Morocco v Iran (4pm)
- Portugal v Spain (7pm)
Saturday
- France v Australia (11am)
- Argentina v Iceland (2pm)
- Peru v Denmark (5pm)
- Croatia v Nigeria (8pm)
Who needs managers? “If Spain go on to have a great World Cup will it mean the end of the cult of the manager?” wonders Dave Soare. “Will England organise a game show two weeks before the lads fly out to decide who is going to take them to the second round in Qatar?”
What I love about that email is that you think you’re joking.
Nothing to see here!
— Richard Conway (@richard_conway) June 13, 2018
The press are still diligently attempting to get Hierro to slag off Lopetegui “We don’t have time to feel sorry for ourselves or think about other things. Our objective is to fight for a World Cup – we’ve been two years preparing for this. We must show maturity.”
Hierro “If I was not convinced of the power of this team, I would not be here. They are very nice guys and very good football players. It hasn’t been an easy for anybody but I am convinced they will do their best.”
Hierro continues
“My job is just the match against Portugal, and then the next match and then the next match. We don’t think about what’s coming in the future or beyond the World Cup. [When asked if he was disappointed with Lopetegui’s behaviour] I’ll be honest with you: it would be a big mistake if we think of the past rather than the future. My head is very relaxed and I only have to face what’s coming in the future. The World Cup only comes every four years so we need to focus.”
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More from Hierro
“I have told the players that I have been in their position. I know the kind of challenges they face. They have come here to fight for a World Cup. Everybody has huge expectations and our focus must be our football, not the problems off the field. We have to fight for that.”
Fernando Hierro and Luis Rubiales are chatting to the press
Hierro: “The whole team is with us. We have already prepared for this match and we need to be consistent. From here until the end of the World Cup we don’t have much scope to change, we need to follow the work that has been done in the past year. This is a fantastic group of players who had an awesome qualification – I have asked them to simply be themselves and follow their personality on the field.”
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Spain The caretaker coach Fernando Hierro is due to meet the press in a few minutes. I bet he’s the personification of joie de vivre right now.
Mwah-ha-ha department AS reports that Real Madrid’s press release yesterday has saved them €2m – that was the buy-out clause in Julen Lopetegui’s contract.
Julen Lopetegui abandona Rusia. Punto y final a la aventura en #Rusia2018 para el ya ex seleccionador de #ESP pic.twitter.com/dny1kql3tf
— AS (@diarioas) June 13, 2018
One day to go! This time tomorrow, the 2018 World Cup will be 15 minutes old, and the score will almost certainly be Russia 0-0 Saudi Arabia.
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“Hi Rob,” says Karam Filfilan. “Personally, I can’t wait for Russia v Saudi Arabia tomorrow. As a half-Saudi, I’m looking forward to the novel idea of going up against a country more disliked than us. Also, I still haven’t gotten over our disastrous defending when leading Tunisia 2-1 on our last world cup appearance in 2006, which allowed Big Sam’s Radhi Jaidi to nut the equaliser in injury time.”
As today’s events have confirmed, you could tell a comprehensive history of the World Cup by focusing entirely on players managed by Sam Allardyce.
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“As an American, I was pretty disappointed to hear the US, Mexico, & Canada won 2026,” says Mikey O’Donnell, who has at least changed the acronym. “Joining the exclusive club of Russia and Qatar the same week your president cozies up to a North Korean dictator and picks a fight with Canada surely isn’t something to celebrate. Plus Morocco would’ve been a blast.”
Japan are the latest subject of our award-winning World Cup team guides.
Brazil No news from the 2018 camp, so why not enjoy a bit of the old nostalgia? A bit of pre-tournament chaos didn’t do them too much harm in 1986.
“Hi Rob,” says Abhu Tyagi. “If Spain were Pakistan, I would put money on them winning this World Cup. This is exactly the kind of thing that would happen to Pakistan before a major cricketing tournament.”
Ha, that’s so true. But if it was really Pakistan, they’d also lose their first two games, sneak through on three points and thrash everyone by at least four goals in the knockout stages.
“There is no loyalty in football generally,” says Ruth Purdue. “I think the Spanish FA have made a mistake and possibly disrupted what could have ended in glory. I hope I am wrong as this Spanish squad is something special.”
I don’t think it’s what he has done so much as the way it was done. The more I think about it, the more I admire the Spanish FA president and former Hamilton Academical defender Luis Rubiales for placing such emphasis on integrity. I’m still not sure it’s the correct decision but, in what has become a thoroughly disgusting sport, his stance is kind of refreshing.
Spain There has been no public comment from Julen Lopetegui, who was sacked this morning. I wonder if part of him is tempted to tell Real where to stick their job. Fernando Hierro, his replacement, is due to be shouted at by the press in just under an hour.
There’s nothing much happening out in Russia, so it’s time for more visual entertainment.
Some Championship news Marcelo Bielsa, who led Argentina to the last 32 at the 2002 World Cup, is set to take over as coach of Leeds United.
Apropos very little, look at this glorious piece of skill from Preben Elkjær against England in 1982.
Today's main news
- Spain have sacked Julen Lopetegui after he agreed to join Real Madrid.
- Fernando Hierro will replace him as caretaker manager.
- Canada, USA and Mexico will host the 2026 World Cup.
- Marcus Rashford missed England training with a slight knee strain.
“Portugal won Euro 2016,” says Matt Dony, “because Aaron Ramsey got suspended.”
You’re still listening to this on loop two years later, aren’t you?
“Croatia have to be at risk,” says Stu Morphet. “Ongoing scandals in the FA and two players facing perjury charges is not ideal prep for a World Cup....”
Yes, that’s a really interesting group. It’s an immutable law of World Cups that any group including a Scandinavian team is tough to predict.
“Germany,” says David Boyes. “Just a hunch, but they basically have the same team with the same long serving manager. Will things be a bit stale, have they already peaked? Though it’s not a difficult group, neither is it an easy one.”
I know what you mean, in that Sweden are capable of putting a spanner in anyone’s works with a 1-1 draw, but I can’t see it. Germany and Brazil invariably win their group and I think that’ll happen again, which would be bad news for England as it would mean certain defeat to one or the other in the quarter-finals (if they get that far).
It’s interesting that a few of you fancy Portugal to go out in the group stages. I’m still not really sure how they won Euro 2016.
“Even before all this nonsense today with Spain, I commented somewhere on the Guardian that it’s not beyond the realms that both Portugal and Spain end up not going through from their group,” says Richard Dennis. “Iran, the best side in Asia, by a fair old amount, and Morocco are a very complete team. Portugal do not inspire me with confidence, and nor do Spain. So, in answer to your question, I give you two answers instead, and both from the same group no less!”
Good one. Next you’ll be telling me Brazil will lose 7-1 to Germany in the semi-final.
At almost every World Cup in my football-watching lifetime, a big team has gone out in the first round: the Soviet Union in 1990, Colombia in 1994, Spain in 1998, France, Portugal and Argentina in 2002, the Czech Republic in 2006, France and Italy in 2010, Spain, Portugal and Italy in 2014.
Who do you think it will be this year? I wouldn’t be shocked if it was Argentina. They have a slippery group: Iceland, Croatia and Nigeria. France’s group is not the easiest either - Australia, Peru and Denmark - and it’s not beyond the realms that England could go home too soon. Tunisia are a decent side.
So, to summarise: it’ll be a Tunisia v Denmark final on 15 July.
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Saudi Arabia There’s another Spanish coach in Russia. Juan Antonio Pizzi, who played his part in another Spain World Cup shambles 20 years ago, is in charge of Saudi Arabia. They will meet Russia tomorrow in the opening match of the tournament.
England Here’s a weird thing: England are at the World Cup, and even jaded hacks are wishing them well. Sachin Nakrani explains why.
“This is a Panini treasure trove,” says Adam Hirst. All the Panini you could ever eat… Togo, Tahiti, Scotland… Personal Memory-Inducing Favourite: the Spain 82 stadiums.”
España 82, please. Show some respect on today of all days.
It’s a little quiet at the moment, with no managers sacked in the past three hours, so here’s a summary of today’s main news:
- Spain have sacked Julen Lopetegui after he agreed to join Real Madrid.
- Fernando Hierro will replace him as caretaker manager.
- Canada, USA and Mexico will host the 2026 World Cup.
- Marcus Rashford missed England training with a slight knee strain.
“Atonement!”
They'll let her do this again 32 years later, surely? 'ATONEMENT!' screams Peter Drury pic.twitter.com/SH3rdYwBGm
— James Dart (@James_Dart) June 13, 2018
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Here’s more on the 2026 World Cup, which will be hosted by Canada, USA and Mexico.
Three hosts, 48 teams: how the 2026 World Cup will work | By @MartinBelam https://t.co/6r0OPcJQK0
— Guardian sport (@guardian_sport) June 13, 2018
Iran In the rich history of football, coaches have used thousands of things to stir their players into action. But this might be the first time a bland statement from a shoe manufacturer has been used as a motivational tool
Thanks Baz, hello again. Let’s proceed straight to this visual feast.
All change! Like Fernando Hierro itching to get into Julen Lopetegui’s chair, Rob Smyth is fed, watered and rearing to take over. He will keep you updated with all the World Cup news that’s fit to print (and plenty that isn’t) throughout the afternoon, so don’t touch that dial.
2026 World Cup: “It’s been announced that USA, Canada and Mexico will be hosting the 2026 tournament after getting the nod at this morning’s Fifa conference in Moscow. Matthew Carpenter-Arevalo has a question: “does the world cup going to three countries mean all three automatically qualify?” he asks.
It’s a good question and the answer at the moment is that nobody knows whether all three will qualify automatically as hosts, or if a single auto-bid will be dispensed. That will probably be decided at the next congress, in 2019. With 48 teams slated to take part in 2026, I suspect Fifa might let them all in. Canada, obviously, invariably struggle to qualify, while Mexico are the only country of the three represented at this year’s tournament after America somehow managed not to qualify ahead of Panama.
Spain press conference: According to Spanish newspaper AS, Spain’s new manager Fernando Hierro is scheduled to address the media in the Krasnodar Stadium press room in Sochi at 4.30pm (BST). That ought to be a lively presser.
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Saipan revisited: There are echoes of Roy Keane being sent home from Saipan around this morning’s Spanish shenanigans, although there appears to have been little or no dithering in the Spanish version. After Keane was sent some (many in Ireland still maintain he left of his own accord and it’s true that he left Mick McCarthy with little choice but to send him home), various politicians and broadcasters intervened to try and make everyone involved see some “sense” and “think of the children”. Spain have moved quickly to replace Julen Lopetegui with their own technical director Fernando Hierro.
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Our report from England training
Eric Dier has allayed any concerns over his fitness prompted by a heavy strapping on his left thigh at England’s open training session at Spartak Zelenogorsk Stadium. The Tottenham Hotspur player, who is competing with Jordan Henderson and Fabian Delph for the defensive midfielder role, confirmed he had been suffering from a minor injury but has now recovered fully.
“I am fine,” he said. “It is just a superstition more than anything now. It’s just because I’ve had a problem with my leg and it’s cleared up now. But I was wearing the strapping before, and I just haven’t stopped wearing it yet. I will, eventually.”
Marcus Rashford was the only member of Gareth Southgate’s 23-man party who missed the team’s first session at their base in Repino on the Gulf of Finland, with the Manchester United striker having suffered a kick to his knee prior to the squad’s departure from St George’s Park. He is expected to conduct some gym work back at the team hotel this afternoon and should be in contention for Monday’s opening group game against Tunisia in Volgograd.
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Speaking of Sid: Our man who’s an authority on all things Spanish is not one for sitting on the fence and has some seriously strident opinions on the sacking of Lopetegui.
Honestly, I don't know if it was the right decision or not. (But I can see some logic to it. And some lack of logic to it as well.)
— Sid Lowe (@sidlowe) June 13, 2018
From the vaults: Following this morning’s news from the Spain camp, I got a kick out of re-reading this interview our own Sid Lowe conducted with Julen Lopetegui back in 2016. In it, the now former Spain manager fondly recalls his days playing with Mark Draper. I wonder does Fernando Hierro fondly recall his days playing alongside Kevin Nolan and Nicky Hunt?
Surely Spain are now following our model, by sacking unbeaten coaches in slightly weird circumstances. They're just showing greater brinksmanship by doing it just before the tournament starts rather than just after his first game.
— Jonathan Wilson (@jonawils) June 13, 2018
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More on Spain: It’s been confirmed that Fernando Hierro will take charge of the Spanish football team for the duration of the tournament after the shock dismissal of Julen Lopetegui. Hierro is Spain’s technical director and the two men were spotted walking around Spain’s training ground just a few hours ago, in very deep and occasionally animated conversation. I wonder what they were talking about?
Happy World Cup eve, one and all – Barry Glendenning here to provide some cover while Rob Smyth stretches his legs after a long stint in the hot-seat.
It being the calm before a perfect storm that’ll be begin when Russia take on Saudi Arabia tomorrow, it’s been a quiet day with very little news of any significance.
Well, very little news of any significance apart from Marcus Rashford sitting out England training with a minor knee injury, the USA, Canada and Mexico getting the 2026 World Cup and … eh ... oh yeah, only SPAIN DECIDING TO SACK THEIR MANAGER JUST TWO DAYS BEFORE THEIR OPENING GAME OF THE TOURNAMENT. Stay tuned and we’ll keep you updated with developments from the Spanish camp as they unravel.
BREAKING NEWS: FERNANDO HIERRO WILL COACH SPAIN AT THE WORLD CUP
If you’ve been in a digital detox pod for the last few hours, Julen Lopetegui was sacked this morning.
OFICIAL | Fernando Hierro asumirá el cargo de seleccionador nacional durante el Campeonato del Mundo de Rusia. https://t.co/g576TRpp3D
— Selección Española de Fútbol (@SeFutbol) June 13, 2018
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The 12.56pm news
I need some lunch, so World Cup Bazzer is going to step into the hot seat for a little while. I’ll leave you with today’s headlines.
- Spain have sacked head coach Julen Lopetegui two days before their first game.
- Canada, USA and Mexico will host the 2026 World Cup.
- Marcus Rashford missed England training with a slight knee strain.
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“With Lopetegui, an important clue is the reference to him needing to manage a team ‘of all Spaniards’,” says John Johnson. “In a highly sensitive time when the question of exactly who are Spaniards is a critical question (Catalan separation), you can’t have the national coach simultaneously being the manager of the club team (Real Madrid) most identified with everything anti-Catalan. At least, not if you want to keep your Barcelona players happy, and want to project *some* sense of Spain as a unified country. It was the right decision, but either way it will reinforce the sense of arrogance and entitlement many Catalans feel towards the rest of Spain. Unbelievably stupid move from Lopetegui.”
Yes, good point. I still think there should have been a way for him to continue, but it’s easy to say that when you’ve never lived in Spain.
Spain “Your post at 11:54 suggested to let the situation marinate for another 24 hours before sacking Lopetegui,” says Richard Firth. “However, that would have put them even closer to the kickoff for the Portugal game which might have made them look even more ridiculous had they still decided to sack him.”
True, but it would have given them a greater chance of making the right decision, which is all that should matter. I’m not sure 24 or 48 hours’ notice makes much difference, but an extra 24 hours’ thought might have done. That said, the more you read about it the more you think the Spanish FA president and former Hamilton Academical defender was unlikely to change his mind.
Some more lunchtime reading Ambassador, etc.
Shouldn’t you be doing some work? Oh.
Our interactive guide to every single player at #WorldCup 2018 https://t.co/Z3dgMwaIvl
— Guardian sport (@guardian_sport) June 13, 2018
The Fiver! In today’s Super Soaraway World Cup special, the Fiver considers… a Spanish shambles.
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A heads-up As an Important Journalist, I’ve had a preview of a BBC documentary that will air on Sunday evening. It’s called Managing England: The Impossible Job, it’s brilliant, and you should watch it.
And some lunchtime viewing (this is great)
Lunchtime reading
“I’m surprised,” begins Edouard Guidon,. “that no-one has mentioned the precedent of the French national manager, Jacques Santini, committing himself to manage Spurs just before Euro 2004, a decision which was disastrous for absolutely all concerned...”
Today’s news
Here are the headlines on another slow news day. Can’t the World Cup just start already?
- Spain have sacked head coach Julen Lopetegui two days before their first game.
- Canada, USA and Mexico will host the 2026 World Cup.
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Marcus Rashford missed England training with a slight knee strain.
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The 2026 World Cup will have 80 matches: 60 in the USA, 10 in Mexico and 10 in Canada. 80 matches! Who’d be a golden goose?
The hell with it: while we’re plugging work from elsewhere...
🆕 long read
— Eurosport UK (@Eurosport_UK) June 8, 2018
⏪ Rob Smyth rewinds to England's unforgettable journey at the 1998 #WorldCup 🏴
📖 READ: https://t.co/jLqNpyEREK pic.twitter.com/yB7uPFi9kF
Our own Daniel Harris has been Lopeteguing with the New Statesman – here’s his typically brilliant World Cup preview.
Why should we allow the arseholes of humanity to rob us of its finest aspect? @DanielHarris on Russia 2018. https://t.co/s3n9zgna0M
— New Statesman (@NewStatesman) June 13, 2018
Why Americans should support Mexico at the World Cup
“If Mexico are co-hosting, does this mean ‘The Wall’ will need extra doors?” says Alan Phoenix-Bates. “How’s this going to work? Observation: nobody seems to ask questions like “How’s this going to work?” these days.”
That’s because nobody gets that far – they just throw crowd-pleasing rhetoric around and argue in vague terms until everyone gets bored and moves onto something else.
Here’s more on the news that Canada, USA and Mexico will host the 2026 World Cup. Fifa might want to change the order of the three nations before they come up with an acronym for the tournament.
Spain: who’s to blame?
“There’s a real sense of outrage in Spain about Florentino Perez’s latest stunt and Lopetegui’s perceived lack of respect to the national team. Rubiales is probably reflecting the mood of the nation more accurately than the players. I don’t see that he could have done anything else. Fergie was right: I wouldnae sell Madrid a virus either.”
He sold them the best bloody footballer of the last 30 years though! But yes, the more I think about it the more I think that, at worst, the former Hamilton Academical defender and Spanish FA president Luis Rubiales was put in a horrible position. I still think he should have let it marinate for another 24 hours, but Lopetegui’s naivety almost beggars belief.
All that said, we probably shouldn’t rush to judgement until some of the facts are in, or even all of them.
Breaking news: Canada, USA and Mexico will host the 2026 World Cup!
Yep. Morocco have missed out, and the World Cup will return to North America for the first time since 1994.
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The English model
Surely Spain are now following our model, by sacking unbeaten coaches in slightly weird circumstances. They're just showing greater brinksmanship by doing it just before the tournament starts rather than just after his first game.
— Jonathan Wilson (@jonawils) June 13, 2018
I bet Lopetegui could use a pint of wine right now.
Justice for toxic masculinity! “Noticed you’ve mentioned Rubiales’ ‘wounded male pride’ several times over the course of the blog,” says Chris Zacharia. “Had a female FA chief sacked Lopetegui, and journalists had rushed to label it ‘female jealousy’, they would have rightly been questioned for their choice of terminology. Even if Rubiales did do it out of ‘wounded pride’, what makes it ‘male’ as opposed to simply human?”
Spain It seems likely that Lopetegui will be replaced by his former assistant Fernando Hierro and/or the under-21 coach Albert Celades.
Your suggestions for emergency Spain manager include Michael Laudrup, Sam Allardyce, David Moyes, Rafa Benitez, Zinedine Zidane and Matt Dony (the last one, admittedly, came from Matt Dony).
Hamilton Academical latest “I think it’s a bit unfair to put all the blame on Rubiales - this whole story is a complete shambles,” says Benedek. “Why did Real Madrid need to announce their new manager two days before the World Cup? Why couldn’t Lopetegui and/or Real at least inform the Spanish FA of the ongoing negotiations, considering the recently signed contract extension? What did Rubiales think before firing Lopetegui two days before their first game? What’s the plan? The incompetence of everyone in this story is so unbelievable I can’t stop smiling.”
Yes, that’s fair – the former Hamilton Academical defender isn’t the only villain here. If reports are accurate, Lopetegui has been stunningly naïve and Real Madrid have been, well, Real Madrid. But ultimately Rubiales seems to have put his male pride before his country.
“As an Irishman, I remember the genuine shock of ‘manager’ Roy Keane leaving the squad in 2002 but arguably the team did better than expected following all that faff (notwithstanding the stupid way we went out to Spain),” says Colin Ward. “ Anyway, though nothing placed yet I had pretty much finalised my outright betting for the tournament and my nap was a Brazil-Spain final. A question for you and any interested readers: is this craziness likely to completely derail Spain’s chances, or might it somehow galvanise them? I want to make sure I invest my £1.50 wisely. And maybe it’ll transpire in a couple of weeks that Rubiales got concussion following his meeting with Sergio Ramos. Look out for the Spanish FA’s president dropping another clanger in the next 20 minutes.”
With a lesser team I would expect it to ruin them, but Spain are so full of winners that it might be different. Which is to say: I haven’t a clue. You’re welcome!
You’re a handsome devil, what’s your name? While the world tries to take in the news about Julen Lopetegui, here’s a bit of light relief.
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The FA will now sack Gareth Southgate. It's vital we follow the Spanish model
— Barney Ronay (@barneyronay) June 13, 2018
A summary of today's news so far
-
Spain have sacked head coach Julen Lopetegui on the eve of the World Cup.
- The Spanish FA president cited
his elephantine egothe manner of the announcement that Lopetegui would join Real Madrid after the tournament.
- Spain, who play their first group game against Portugal on Friday, will announce a replacement this afternoon.
- Marcus Rashford misses England training with a slight knee strain.
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“Hi Rob,” says Paul Fitzgerald. “You’d think Ramos would’ve been able to twist Rubiales’s arm on the matter.”
Spain “I can’t make head nor tail of this decision, but it does make me feel a little better about Brexit,” says Alan Phoenix-Bates. “Any news on Jaffa Cakes?”
Not yet. Mary Berry’s 11am press conference has been put back an hour.
“Why don’t the Spain players just refuse to play unless he is reinstated?” says Andrew Hurley. “Would be a rare case of footballers showing courage, and the Spanish FA would have to back down.”
I suspect they’ll just get on with it like the Ireland players did when Roy Keane was sacked in 2002.
There is no news yet on who will manage Spain in their first World Cup game IN TWO BLOODY DAYS’ TIME. It’s a staggering demonstration of masculinity, toxic from Luis Rubiales, who has probably flushed a World Cup campaign down the toilet to soothe his wounded male pride.
Julen Lopetegui sacked as Spain head coach Here’s our breaking news story on the astonishing developments in the Spain camp.
Here’s the Spanish FA president and former Hamilton Academical defender Luis Rubiales explaining the decision
“We have to decided to fire the national coach. What we have achieved in getting here is due in great part to him, and we must thank him and wish him luck. The Spanish national team is the team of all the Spaniards. We only found out just five minutes before the announcement that he was leaving for Madrid. There is a way that you must act. Julen has worked in a great way with the team, but we cannot accept how he has acted in this case.”
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This is an astonishing development, just 29 hours before the start of the World Cup. To compound matters, it sounds like the players were strongly against the move. But the former Hamilton Academical defender Luis Rubiales, now Spanish FA president, was not for turning.
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BREAKING NEWS: JULEN LOPETEGUI HAS BEEN SACKED AS SPAIN COACH
Oh my.
Justice for Italia 90! “Oh, and you’re absolutely correct about Brazil 2014 too,” says my new BFF Shaun Lawson. “Started really well, died a death - just not in the same extremes either way as Japorea ‘02. 2014 being the best World Cup this century simply means it was the smallest lump in the cesspit. The last genuinely good World Cup from a purist’s point of view was 1986; though just like you, Italia 90 will always be the Daddy for me, and those who whine about it miss the point of that tournament completely.”
Yes, I think that last point is really important (and is demonstrated brilliantly in Simon Hart’s definitive book about the tournament). I’d argue the last great World Cup was 1982, but I wouldn’t foam all over QWERTY at the suggestion of 1986.
“It’s not the same guy at the helm as then - but this is the same ridiculous Spanish FA which didn’t even give Atletico Madrid the league trophy in May 2014, because the then president was ‘travelling’,” says Shaun Lawson. “The Spanish FA has bent over backwards for Real Madrid throughout its entire history - and NOW it suddenly has a problem? It’s exactly as you just said: masculinity, toxic.”
I’m seriously starting to wonder whether it’s time to make men extinct.
And still they wait...
— Sid Lowe (@sidlowe) June 13, 2018
This really is an absolutely mind-blowing way to start a World Cup.
And so, so avoidable too.
Spain It’s all speculation, but... it now sounds like Lopetegui is staying, thanks to a successful intervention from Nobel Peace Prize winner Sergio Ramos.
Justice for Brazil 2014! “Knock-out stages of Brazil 2014 were better than some remember,” says Richard Sillett. “Well, the last 16 was anyway. Germany-Algeria and Brazil-Chile tense and exciting, USA-Belgium was nuts, and then we had that James Rodriguez goal in the game against Uruguay. Is that what we’re really asking of a knock-out round? A quarter-final stage that’s a non-non-event?”
I know I’m being old-fashioned but I recall a time when more than a few of the knockout games had a pulse. That said, so much of this is personal – Italia 90 will always be my favourite World Cup, and most people loathe it.
Brazil 2014 was objectively the best World Cup of this century - but contrast the knockout games with France 98, which had three classics as well as drama, shocks, genius and all the other stuff you need to hand in an argument like this.
Russia Tomorrow’s opening match involves the two lowest ranked teams at the tournament: Russia (70th) against Saudi Arabia (67th). It’s not just Bodega fans who are asking, ‘How did this happen?’
Spain “Rob,” says Hubert O’Hearn. “There are many things in life I do not understand: Brexit for one, how my dog Stella knows when I even think the word ‘sandwich’ for another. But I truly don’t understand the fuss over Lopetegui taking a job that starts after the World Cup. Is this all just because it’s Real Madrid or what am I missing here?”
See masculinity, toxic. We don’t know for certain but reports suggest the president Rubiales has taken the huff because it was all done behind his back.
Meetings between federation, captains and Lopetegui continue -the press conference is delayed further
— Guillem Balague (@GuillemBalague) June 13, 2018
Players originally didn’t want to get involved but lately they suggested continuity is the best policy.
The federation has been gearing towards sacking in the last few hours
Random phrases from Sky Sports News’ World Cup coverage, part 1 in an occasional series
“Word of warning: if you thought you’d heard the last of the infamous Vuvuzelas, think again!”
Unsubscribe.
Spain The key man in this shamb- sorry, story is former Hamilton Academical defender Luis Rubiales. He is the president of the Spanish FA whose nose has apparently been put so far out of joint by Real Madrid’s announcement that he now wants to sack Lopetegui.
The players, it says here, are pleading for a bit of common sense and dignity. When Sergio Ramos is playing the good guy, you know things have gone awry.
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Colombia were the most exciting team at the 2014 World Cup. This year they have many of the same players – and the tournament’s best kit. Oh, and they could well face England in the last 16. Here’s our frankly brilliant team guide.
Spain Julen Lopetegui’s press conference is scheduled to start now, but I’m not sure a decision has been taken on his future. This is a magnificent shambles.
Some more brunchtime reading for you
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England waiting to start their first training session here in Repino. Gareth Southgate about to be presented with salted bread and some tea as a welcome by local dignitaries #awfulphotography pic.twitter.com/VQeTC5RNO2
— Dominic Fifield (@domfifield) June 13, 2018
Kubala was Spain coach at Euro 1980 - announced pre-tournament he was leaving to take over at Barcelona - Spain finished bottom of group with one point. https://t.co/wcYOd43eVX
— Dermot Corrigan (@dermotmcorrigan) June 13, 2018
I suppose the counter argument is: Spain were pretty crap anyway, as we saw two years later. But I wasn’t in and amongst the camp, so I have no idea how much it affected morale.
“Enjoying the live blog,” says Ed Gutteridge, lining up the inevitable ‘but’, “but ‘the first really exciting World Cup since France 98’?? After Brazil 2014, the actual, funnest, best ever one?! Madness.”
Were you awake for the knockout matches? The group stages were fun, I’ll let you have that one. But with one once-in-a-lifetime exception, the business end was pretty dull.
The Knowledge: Panini special! I had a lot of fun – too much fun, if I’m honest, too much danger – researching this week’s Knowledge. I wonder if this year’s album has the correct Spain manager.
Spain “Lying in bed, listening to Radio Marca, the very big possibility of Spanish coach Lopetegui getting the sack two days before their first World Cup game,” says Frederick Stinger. “Real Madrid make themselves bigger than the Spanish team, belittling Spain as a country, not to say marking Lopetegui for life. Rubiales the new Spanish representative for world football is steaming angry so we might see the B team manager take over. Punters change your bets!”
Lying in bed you say?
Random phrases from Sky Sports News’ World Cup coverage, part 1 in an occasional series
“Now what you’re looking at there is salted bread...”
If anyone knows the inventor of the mute button, please kiss them on my behalf.
Brunch recap
- Spain coach Julen Lopetegui’s morning press conference was put back to 1030 BST amid rumours that he is to be sacked on the eve of the World Cup
- Real Madrid announced yesterday that Lopetegui would take over from Zinedine Zidane after the World Cup
- Marcus Rashford has missed England’s training session with a slight knee strain
Germany Thanks to my man Daniel Harris for sending this interesting link to an interesting link.
Interesting article about the Gündogan/Özil/Erdogan affair by Ilker Gündogan, brother of Ilkay: https://t.co/yvGeGFK7RH
— Raphael Honigstein (@honigstein) June 12, 2018
One day to go department
“Might just be me reading the blog through my own lens of excitement,” says Stuart Morphet, “but you’re definitely a little giddy and excited aren’t you?”
Yup. If you can’t get giddy and excited the day before another World Cup that will eventually let you down with a load of low-scoring knockout games, then when can you!
But seriously folks: I have a strange and not entirely explicable feeling this might be the first really exciting World Cup since France 98.
The plan is for Marcus Rashford to do some training later at the hotel, presumably in the gym, after he sat out today’s group session because of a whack to the knee sustained in training before the squad flew to Russia. The sense is that he will be fine for Monday’s game against Tunisia.
Spain latest Having scoured Twitter, I can confirm that:
- Julen Lopetegui will be sacked as Spain coach
- Julen Lopetegui will not be sacked as Spain coach
- Jaffa Cakes are definitely cakes
- Jaffa Cakes are definitely biscuits
Spain If Lopetegui is sacked, it doesn’t necessarily mean Spain have no chances of winning the tournament. Obviously it wouldn’t be ideal, but many teams have emerged from chaos to excel at World Cups - and in some cases win it.
Iceland Now, if Iceland aren’t your first of second team at this tournament, you have my pity. Nick Ames has spoken to their manager Heimir Hallgrímsson
“Hi Rob,” says Conor Plunkett. “Pretty sure Roy Keane worked for the Saipan tourist board as well.”
That was why he was sacked, wasn’t it?
VAR department “Do you think that the use of VAR will be a total nonsense, or will it be a welcome addition?” asks Will Morrison. “I can just imagine the kerfuffle if Russia are awarded a questionable late penalty tomorrow evening, then VAR overrules the decision.... It would take a brave official to make that call.”
I will be very surprised if it isn’t a total shambles. Even if you ignore arguments about the soul of the game, the officials have nothing like enugh experience for it to be used in a tournament of this size. There are also too many undefined grey areas. Don’t be surprised if somebody headbutts or punches a referee.
As you say, if basic errors are made in relatively minor games, what will it be like when the stakes are stratospheric and/or Vladimir Putin is running amok in your subconscious? By using it so soon, football is trying to run before it can crawl.
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England A bit more reading (come on, keep up). Simon Burnton has been speaking to members of recent England squads, including Rio Ferdinand and Frank Lampard, to find out what can be learned from previous World Cup failures.
Here’s Sean O’Mahony “Conor Plunkett (9.31) is asking if you’re having a moment because you’ve now stated twice that Roy Keane was manager of Ireland in 2002. Do some research mate.”
Ach! Sorry, you’re right, that’s my mistake: I should of course have said he was the player-manager.
England A bit more reading for you. The ever excellent Dominic Fifield speaks to the frequently excellent Kyle Walker about his new role with the Royal Challengers Bangalor- sorry, as an RCB.
“It’s not Roy Keane,” says Will Donovan. “Roy Keane wasn’t the manager.”
England In other news, here’s Daniel Taylor on the cyberthreat to England’s players.
“Hi Rob,” says Conor Plunkett. “Just wondering if you’re having a moment with the whole Roy Keane thing. He may have thought he was the manager but big Mick put him in his place.”
No, no moment.
The previous 'managerial binning closest to the start of a World Cup' I can find is Eduard Malofeyev, told to do one by the USSR about a month before 1986. But I am open to suggestions.
— Nick Miller (@NickMiller79) June 13, 2018
ROY KEANE.
Spain latest Julen Lopetegui’s press conference, scheduled for 0930BST, has been delayed by an hour. There are rumours that the Spanish FA president Luis Rubiales wants to sack Lopetegui, and that other board members are trying gently to point out what an overreaction that would be.
England Marcus Rashford will miss today’s training session, which starts in a few minutes, with a slight knee injury. I was going to say it doesn’t sound like much to worry about, but knees are notoriously untrustworthy. At this stage, though, there is no suggestion he’ll be unavailable for the Tunisia game on Monday.
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The Spanish FA president Luis Rubiales was supposed to be at Fifa’s congress today but left hotel apparently looking very panicked to fly to Spain training base late last night.
On Tuesday evening he was in Metropol hotel in central Moscow, in lobby bar, very relaxed, talking about the Spanish federation. Then it appears news of Lopetegui’s move to Real Madrid reached him.
He swiftly made his exit from the hotel, looking very panicked, apparently to catch a flight to Spain’s training base.
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The Russia World Cup is soooo 2018. If you want to find out who will be hosting the 2026 World Cup, click away now.
#WorldCup 2026 vote: Fifa nations choose between North America and Morocco – live! Join @BryanAGraham https://t.co/o5l410wqJp
— Guardian sport (@guardian_sport) June 13, 2018
An email! “Hi Rob!” says Drew Gough. “Very much looking forward to days upon days of rolling MBM coverage for Russia 2018, in a way I suspect the crew at Guardian Towers is not. Honest question for you: I know it’s the first game of the tournament and all, but has there ever been a less attractive opening fixture than Russia-Saudi Arabia?”
No. You’re welcome! Obviously some of the games have turned out to be stinkers - West Germany 0-0 Poland in 1978 wasn’t one for the weeks, never mind for the ages - but I can’t recall a fixture that looked less appealing beforehand. And I’ve lived through every World Cup.
Spain latest I should stress that there is no official word that Julen Lopetegui is to be sacked as Spain manager, so it may be just another Twitter fiaschoax. We’ll find out in the next half hour or so. Who was the last manager to leave this close to a World Cup? Roy Keane in 2002?
A bit more breakfast/brunch reading: here’s Martha Kelner on VAR and offside issues. There’s going to be an incident, isn’t there.
How do you top a disaster like Spain’s Brazil 2014 campaign? Well...
While we wait to discover precisely what state Spain are in - Julen Lopetegui is due to meet the friendly media in just over half an hour - here’s some breakfast reading for you.
Spare a thought for those who tipped Spain. Oh hang on, nobody did.
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Kick off is 31 hours away, but it’s time for the first OMG! of the 2018 World Cup
Seems quite possible that Rubiales / Lopetegui press conference in about an hour will be to announce Spain will have a different coach on bench v Portugal on Friday. Hierro and Celades candidates to step in.
— Dermot Corrigan (@dermotmcorrigan) June 13, 2018
Preamble
Hello, good morning and welcome to our liveblog of the day before the World Cup! There will be plenty going on - not least in Camp Spain, where Julen Lopetegui will be meeting the press at some stage. Yesterday afternoon, Real Madrid showed their usual sensitivity by announcing that Lopetegui will become their new manager after the World Cup. It’s not necesarily a barrier to success - remember ‘PSV Off Bungler Bobby’ in 1990 - but nor is it a recommended course of action in the Little Book of Team Morale.
As well as shoving some Spanish articles through Google Translate in an increasingly frantic manner, we’ll bring you the latest news from all 32 teams. Okay, not all of them, how many fingers do you think I have, but the ones who do or say anything interesting. England are training this morning, possibly without the injured Marcus Rashford, and there will be much else besides.
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