Bayern Munich midfielder Thiago Alcantara admits the dismissal of Julen Lopetegui hit Spain's World Cup plans hard.

Lopetegui was axed on the eve of the tournament after it was confirmed he would be taking charge of Real Madrid for the new season.

Thiago revisited the controversy yesterday: "Impossible to win the World Cup after the dismissal of Lopetegui? No, but the numbers speak for themselves.

"You are much less likely when your coach, with whom you have been two years and with whom you were undefeated, is fired.

"I do not know what the other players think, it would have been more normal to reach the final with the same staff, with the same team that we had."