FIFA World Cup 2018: 5 reasons why Spain could still win it without Julen Lopetegui

A World Cup without drama is somewhat incomplete. However, never before has there been a chaos of such magnitude before the start of the tournament itself. The Spanish football federation decided to sack Julen Lopetegui – the coach of the Spanish national team – just a day before the World Cup and two days before their first game against Portugal.

Lopetegui’s fault was to accept Madrid’s offer without letting the federation know about it – which is their claim – while Madrid’s decision to approach him just two days before the World Cup wasn’t a professional move either.

However, one can’t help but feel that Luis Rubiales, the president of the federation, made a terrible decision to sack him right before the World Cup. The players didn’t want it, most of the staff didn’t want it – and yet, he went out on his own and sack the newly-signed Madrid manager.

There were reports of players, led by Sergio Ramos, trying to stop Rubiales from taking such a radical decision but to no avail as Spain now head to the World Cup without the coach that oversaw the qualification process.

But even then, Spain could win the competition – and here are five reasons why…

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#5 Strong squad

Julen Lopetegui’s sacking doesn’t change the fact that Spain have an amazing squad – especially in midfield. This is a team with a bunch of players that have an immense amount of talent and also significant experience in playing at the big stage.

With over 30 Champions League titles, collectively, among the players in the Spain squad, there is no question that this a group of winners that not only have an elite mentality but also the ample amount of experience under their belt.

Even the youngest member of the squad – Marco Asensio – has the experience of playing, and scoring, in Champions League finals. They have world-class players in each department and they won’t just forget how to play the game because their coach has been sacked.

It might have been a mess that could hit the morale, but given that Lopetegui had been training them for two years, the…

#4 Players know the plan

New Madrid manager

After the retirement of Vicente Del Bosque, Julen Lopetegui took control of the national team. His successes with the youth level of the nation only made him the logical choice to be the manager of La Furia Roja.

Since taking over, Lopetegui managed Spain in 20 games but never lost a single one of them while winning 14 and drawing 6 in the process. Given that he took over a team at the end of a cycle and needing drastic changes and transforming it into a team with a perfect amalgamation of experience and youth, it could be claimed that this team knows his ethos in and out.

After all, he was their manager at a time when a change was needed – and he gave them just that, which won’t just fade away with his sacking. The players don’t need to be taught football, rather a system in which all of them can flourish.

Lopetegui already did that and they will just have to play keeping that in mind.

#3 Anger

Repressed anger

This might be repressed as of now but the truth is that the players are ought to be angry at the way things were handled by Rubiales. Despite the fact that Sergio Ramos and Andres Iniesta asked him to not sack Lopetegui, Rubiales went on and did it and it won’t be surprising if this incurred the wrath of the players.

You see, anger is a complex emotion. It has the capacity to burn the one holding it or, if channelled properly, burn the people meant to be burned. Since the Spain team is filled with players who are not only great at what they do but also mentally very strong, it won’t be surprising if they zone this anger in the proper way.

And this anger could help them lift the World Cup for the second time in their history.

#2 Hierro

New Spain manager

Julen Lopetegui’s sacking made Spain appoint its sporting director as the manager of the team. He will now lead the unit from the sidelines and hope to galvanise the players’ morale.

Now Hierro is not your average person. This is a man that is a proper Spain and Real Madrid legend. Despite being a defender, he is the fourth-highest goalscorer in the history of Spain.

He has the respect of the players and has the personality to handle the dressing room. And at this point, that is what matters because the tactics have already been implanted within the group and all that remains now is a person who can manage the personalities and keep the harmony of the squad high.

Also, the fact that he has been with the team for seven months now makes it all the more assured that he is already aware of the type of football that Lopetegui played.

#1 Nature’s good ol’ story

Spain's 2010 triumph

What would be the most absurd thing after this saga? Many are expecting Spain to get knocked out of the competition from the group stage itself. While there is no doubt that it could happen, it would be boring because then everyone gets to say “I told you so!”

Nature, however, has shown us many a time that it has a tendency to create the weirdest of stories. Most recently, Real Madrid’s Champions League win in the 2015-16 season after sacking Rafa Benitez midway through the campaign was a major plot twist from Mother Nature.

When every Real Madrid fan had prepared for a trophy-less season, they went on to win three back-to-back Champions League titles. So the point is, Fernand Hierro – another former Real Madrid assistant manager – could do what Zidane did with Madrid.

In short, he could win the World Cup with Spain, making nature script another roller-coaster of a story.