Page 18 - ARUBA TODAY

A18 SPORTS
Thursday 14 June 2018
Spain replaces fired Lopetegui with Hierro for World Cup

By TALES AZZONI Bolton in 2005. He played in
AP Sports Writer four World Cups with Spain,
With only two days to go from 1990 to 2002, and in
before Spain's opening two European Champion-
match at the World Cup, ships, 1996 and 2000.
Julen Lopetegui was fired Hierro was Carlo Ancelotti's
as national team coach af- assistant at Real Madrid af-
ter accepting a job to lead ter Zinedine Zidane left the
Real Madrid next season. post in 2014. He coached
Spanish soccer federation second-division club Real
president Luis Rubiales, who Oviedo two seasons ago
made the announcement and was Malaga's general
on Wednesday in Kras- manager after leaving his
nodar, later said Fernando sports director position with
Hierro would replace Lop- the Spanish federation in
etegui as coach for Spain's 2011.
match against Portugal in "I've been near a ball for 30
Sochi on Friday. years," Hierro said.
The 50-year-old Hierro, a After Madrid's announce-
former national team play- ment that it hired Lop-
er and Real Madrid cap- etegui, critics immediately
tain, will be taking on his began questioning some
first major coaching job. Spanish football president Luis Rubiales, right, poses with Spain's new coach Fernando Hierro of the coach's decisions
He had been acting as the before a press conference at the 2018 soccer World Cup in Krasnodar, Russia, Wednesday, June with the national team, in-
federation's sports director 13, 2018. cluding his choice to leave
and was already in Russia Associated Press some Barcelona players
with the national team. such as Sergi Roberto out
"I couldn't have said 'no,' the federation's values and sage" that things have to the federation's financial of the World Cup squad.
I wouldn't forgive myself," it was the only decision he be done properly. situation was not ideal, There were also questions
Hierro said. "We still have a could make. There were reports that money was "not the most about how Lopetegui
great opportunity in front of "It's a difficult situation, but players tried to persuade important thing in a mo- would be able to fully focus
us. We have to remain posi- we are not the ones who Rubiales to change his ment like this." on the national team while
tive and move forward." determined the action that mind and keep Lopetegui Lopetegui did not attend also having to discuss off-
Rubiales said firing Lop- had to be taken. The fed- on the job. the news conference but season signings for his new
etegui wasn't the best solu- eration has its values and it "We are the national team. spoke briefly with reporters club. There are six Madrid
tion but it was needed after has to maintain them," Ru- We represent this emblem, as he started his trip back players in Spain's team for
the federation was caught biales said. "It may look like these colors, our fans, a home. the World Cup.
by surprise by Madrid's an- a weakness now, but with country," Spain captain "I am very sad, but we have Lopetegui's name had not
nouncement. time this will make us stron- Sergio Ramos wrote on a magnificent team and been mentioned by Span-
"The federation cannot be ger." Twitter. "Our responsibility I hope we win the World ish media among the prob-
left out of a negotiation by Rubiales said he tried and commitment is to you. Cup," he said. able candidates for the
one of its workers and be to keep the Madrid an- Yesterday, today and to- Hierro was to lead his Madrid job, which opened
informed five minutes be- nouncement from being morrow, together." players for the first time in up after Zidane unexpect-
fore the press release," Ru- made public but it wasn't Because he was fired, Ma- a practice session later edly quit. Last month, Lop-
biales said. "We have been possible. He said he had to drid won't have to pay the Wednesday. etegui agreed to extend
compelled to act." make the decision — which 2 million euros ($2.3 million) The former defender spent his contract with the na-
Rubiales, who took over as was supported by the fed- of the termination clause most of his career with Real tional team through 2020.
president last month, said eration's board of directors on Lopetegui's contract. Madrid but finished his play- "I admire and respect Lop-
Lopetegui disrespected — to "send a clear mes- Rubiales said that although ing days with English club etegui a lot. q

Federer starts grass-court season with win in Stuttgart

STUTTGART, Germany (AP) a long time, it's longer than Guido Pella or Prajnesh
— Roger Federer rallied to the year-end break. So I'm Gunneswaran in the quar-
beat home favorite Mischa very happy returning on terfinals. Indian qualifier
Zverev 3-6, 6-4, 6-2 at the good terms," said Federer, Gunneswaran upset sixth-
Stuttgart Open on Wednes- who skipped the entire seeded Denis Shapovalov
day in his first match in clay-court season for the of Canada 7-6 (6), 2-6, 6-3
nearly three months. second year in a row. in their first-round match.
The Swiss great converted Zverev had never won a Defending champion Lu-
four of his 10 break points set against Federer in their cas Pouille defeated Ger-
to end a two-match losing five previous meetings, man wild-card entry Rudolf
streak and start his grass- but he took the first before Molleker 6-3, 6-4 to reach
court season with a win. the second-ranked Swiss the quarterfinals.
Federer hadn't played upped his game and broke There were also wins for Mi-
since March, when he lost the German twice to force los Raonic and Maximilian
to Thanasi Kokkinakis and the decider. Federer lost to Marterer in the first round,
Juan Martin del Potro in Dustin Johnson hits off the fourth tee as Tiger Woods looks on another German, Tommy while Denis Istomin defeat-
Miami and Indian Wells, re- during a practice round for the U.S. Open Golf Championship, Haas, in his Stuttgart opener ed Florian Mayer 6-3, 6-4 in
spectively. "Three months is Tuesday, June 12, 2018, in Southampton, N.Y. last year, but will now face the second round.q