ON THIS DAY: Spain sack Lopetegui two days before their 2018 World Cup start

On this day in 2018 Spain sacked head coach Julen Lopetegui, 48 hours before the start of their adventure in the World Cup in Russia.

The then 51-year-old was dismissed before the opener against Portugal after it emerged he was to replace Zinedine Zidane at the Bernabeu as Real Madrid head coach.

Lopetegui's move to Real angered Spanish Football Federation president Luis Rubiales, who said he was only told about it five minutes before Real confirmed the news publicly.

Lopetegui was replaced as Spain head coach by sporting director Fernando Hierro.

The 2010 World Cup were knocked out by host Russia in a penalty shootout in the round of 16.