World Cup

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Attendance: 78,011

World Cup | Round of 16

Jul 1, 2018 at 3pm UK

Spain
1-1
Russia

Ignashevich (12' og.)

FT
(aet)

Dzyuba (41' pen.)

Russia win 4-3 on penalties

Fernando Hierro: 'It has been a pleasure to coach Spain at World Cup'

By Giuseppe Labellarte, Reporter | 01 July 2018

Fernando Hierro says that it has been "a pleasure" to coach Spain but stresses that he does not know whether he will take the role permanently as it is not his decision.

Fernando Hierro has described his tenure as Spain manager as "a pleasure" but stressed that he does not know whether he will take the role permanently as it is not his decision.

The former Real Madrid defender was fast-tracked from his role of technical director of the Royal Spanish Football Federation to head coach at the World Cup after Julen Lopetegui was sacked.

Despite leading La Roja out of their group in Russia, Hierro was unable to prevent his side from losing on penalties to the hosts in the last 16.

"We all feel pain, we came to do something important, fight for the World Cup, but that's football," Hierro told Football Espana after the game.

"It's nothing to do with their commitment, companionship and effort they put in every day.

"It's been a pleasure to coach them. If there's anything to criticise us for, I'm the coach and I'm the one most responsible for what's happened.

"My future? It's not my decision whether I stay. After this elimination, what I do doesn't matter."

Spain won the World Cup in 2010 but were knocked out at the first hurdle four years later.