By Tim Stannard

Spain’s reboot continues with Iranian run-out

Soccer is following the news in general these days - completely exhausting to follow. But a 1000% more trivial, at least.

It was only a week ago that the World Cup was yet to start and Spain was apparently renting a condo in Chaos City after firing coach Julen Lopetegui – off to Real Madrid – and replacing the TRAITOR with Fernando Hierro, just two days before the country’s first World Cup game against Portugal.

A week later and the universe seems to be a very different place with the attending Spanish media gossiping over stuff that is never going to happen. In this case, whether David de Gea will be dropped for Wednesday’s clash against Iran after a blooper special in the 3-3 draw against Portugal. Nonsense, but a happier diversion that discussing inter-camp rivalry breaking up a potentially World Cup-winning squad. "All I can say is De Gea will play. We trust him entirely,” boomed Hierro, making himself very clear indeed.

Spain’s social media team has certainly gone overboard in promoting a feeling of fun and frivolity in the camp although as everyone knows, whenever people appear super-psyched on Instagram, it’s a façade to cover their bleak, despairing lives.

The only other big choice in what is a must-win match against Iran – especially after Portugal’s early victory against Morocco – is whether to play the recently recovered Dani Carvajal at rightback or stick with Nacho. Fairly mundane topics and in stark contrast to the dimension-shattering drama of a week ago.

Oh! Brighten your day enormously by heading to our Facebook page at half-time for every match for our commercial free, 360-degree punditry experience. With cool hats.

Uruguay looks to clinch in Saudi Arabia clash

Spinning back now to Wednesday’s second game of the day in Rostov with the second round of group matches well underway.

And it should be a coast to the knock-out stages for Uruguay with a clash against Saudi Arabia, last seen being hammered by the Russians on the opening day. The South Americans were busy back in the day laboring against Egypt in the team’s opening World Cup game and reliant on a late set-piece goal for the victory – basically, Atletico Madrid.

A victory for Uruguay won’t just firmly seal the country’s passage to the promised land – metaphorically speaking – but also allow Russia to officially go through to the knock-out stages with them and see Egypt and the Saudi’s playing out a gloom-fest in the final group game on Monday. That gets underway at 2PM ET / 11AM PT.

Head to the XTRA at 7PM ET / 4PM PT for an hour-long special every day with everything you could possibly want to know about the World Cup bonanza in Russia.

More Messi musings for Sampaoli

Wednesday will also see the players and managers speaking ahead of the following roster of games on Thursday – Denmark v Australia, France against Peru and Argentina taking on Croatia, a severely must-win match for the Albiceleste.

Speaking of which, Iceland’s Alfred Finnbogason, has being pondering over remarks made by Leo Messi that his team did not want to play football in Saturday’s 1-1 draw. "Well there's no one correct way to play football,” thunder-clapped the Viking. Under-fire Jorge Sampaoli will have the chance to respond later today but will more likely be pestered with the same questions all his predecessors have faced – how to get the best out of Leo Messi.

And on a superstar tangent, the brows of Brazil fans were eased a little ahead of the country’s clash against Costa Rica on Friday with Neymar back in full training, after leaving early on Tuesday due to an ankle knock.

TRANSFER TRACKER

Tuesday’s rumor has become Wednesday’s story with Sampdoria confirming the departure of Lucas Torreira to Arsenal for a fee of around $33 million, with the Serie A owner boasting of a 10-fold profit on the Uruguayan midfielder in the 2015. “Don’t let his size fool you,” affirms our approving Serie A expert, Andres Cordero, on the 5 feet 6 player plying his trade in the physical Premier League, “he’s Uruguayan.” Nuff said.

Elsewhere, West Ham United now lead by Manuel Pellegrini has now gone back to a familiar hunting ground for talent – Ligue Un. The Hammers have signed Toulouse centerback, Issa Diop, for nearly $30 million.

Right, time to dip into some Chelsea news and although the appointment of Maurizio Sarri as new coach seems to be a case of later rather than sooner – with Gianfranco Zola as assistant – the former Napoli boss might be bringing a familiar face with him in the form of Dries Mertens, although there are doubts on whether the Belgian wants to play for a club that is not in the Champions League next season.

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