'Lopetegui sacking won't affect Spain'

"I am very sad, but we have a magnificent team and hopefully we'll win the World Cup. "

Julen Lopetegui

Spain's decision to sack coach Julen Lopetegui on the eve of the World Cup will have little impact on the quality of the 2010 world champions' game, Germany midfielder Toni Kroos said on Thursday.

Lopetegui was sensationally sacked Wednesday, two days before Spain's opening Group B match against Portugal, after their soccer federation said he failed to inform them he had agreed to join Real Madrid after the tournament.

"Honestly I don't think it is a big drawback for Spain," 2014 World Cup winner Kroos, who will work under Lopetegui at Real Madrid, told reporters. "I will meet him soon. Of course there are more ideal things than losing your coach two days before your World Cup start. But I think that it won't be too much of a drawback."

Real unexpectedly announced on Tuesday that Lopetegui, who recently extended his contract with Spain and was unbeaten in his 20 games in charge, would be the club's coach next season. He was replaced at the helm of the national team by former Real assistant coach Fernando Hierro.

"(Hierro) is a good guy and a good coach," said Kroos who worked with nhim at Real. "I think Spain's systems will work just as fine."