Julen Lopetegui has been sacked as Spain national coach on the eve of the World Cup, after agreeing to take over at Real Madrid.

Madrid had been looking for a replacement since Zinedine Zidane stepped down last month, just days after winning a third consecutive Champions League trophy.

After guiding Spain easily through qualification to the World Cup finals, Lopetegui had agreed a new contract up until Euro 2022 in May. But just three days before Spain's Group B opener against Portugal in Sochi, Madrid announced on Tuesday afternoon that they had convinced him to leave that position after the tournament is over to take up a three-year deal with the La Liga giants.

RFEF president Luis Rubiales and Lopetegui were set to give a news conference from the national team's camp in Krasnodar early on Wednesday morning. Ex-Spain and Madrid defender Fernando Hierro is also with the team in Russia as sporting director, and could step in as coach if Lopetegui were to leave immediately.

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Trouble in paradise. Madrid causing problems up an down