Spain have sacked their manager Julen Lopetegui only 48 hours before their first game of the tournament against Portugal.

Apparently affronted by Lopetegui's decision to take the vacant Real Madrid job after the World Cup without telling them anything, the Spanish FA (RFEF) hit back by binning Lopetegui.

“We have to decided to fire the national coach," said RFEF President Luis Rubiales at a press conference this morning. "What we have achieved in getting here is due in great part to him, and we must thank him and wish him luck.

"The Spanish national team is the team of all the Spaniards. We only found out just five minutes before the announcement that he was leaving for Madrid. There is a way that you must act. Julen has worked in a great way with the team, but we cannot accept how he has acted in this case.”

Lopetegui had taken training as usual yesterday but the sudden announcement of a press conference this morning started rumours that Lopetegui was about to be forced out.

However, counter-rumours reported (and subsequently deleted) by Spanish newspaper Marca said that a delegation of senior players led by Evil Sergio Ramos had put their collective, very senior feet down to stop the sacking. Because, you know, it doesn't seem like a great idea, does it? Sacking your manager two days before you start your World Cup campaign against European champions?

You'll struggle to get a plumber sorted within 48 hours, let alone an international standard manager with the charisma and respect within the game to unite a squad who are presumably absolutely furious with the RFEF right now.