As well-known, Spain’s World Cup journey was marred by chaos even before the first ball was kicked. Jeetbuzz App Download highlights that Fernando Hierro was not the only coach to step down during the tournament. Long before him, several managers had already resigned or been dismissed. One of the most impactful moments came when Mohamed Salah injured his shoulder in the Champions League final, casting a long shadow over Egypt’s World Cup hopes. Salah was a vital part of Héctor Cúper’s counterattacking strategy, and although he made a rushed return, scoring twice, Egypt still failed to advance beyond the group stage.

They lost 0-1 to Uruguay, then 1-3 to Russia, and finally fell to Saudi Arabia with a heartbreaking stoppage-time goal. Three straight losses meant Egypt remained winless in its World Cup history. Days later, Dutch coach Bert van Marwijk stepped down as Australia’s head coach. On June 29, the Australian Football Federation announced the end of Van Marwijk’s short-term tenure, appointing Sydney FC’s Graham Arnold as his successor. Van Marwijk had signed a temporary deal in January to lead the Socceroos through the World Cup, with Arnold’s takeover already confirmed in March. While Australia didn’t make it out of the group, they impressed with a narrow loss to France and a draw against Denmark. Unfortunately, they couldn’t seize the moment in their final match against an already eliminated Peru.

June wasn’t over when yet another coach exited the stage. Poland, seeded in Group H alongside Colombia, Japan, and Senegal, suffered two early defeats and were eliminated before the third match. Their underwhelming performance shocked fans worldwide. Head coach Adam Nawałka took full responsibility and announced his resignation. He had led Poland since 2013 and took them to the Euro 2016 quarterfinals, where they lost to Portugal in a penalty shootout. Despite that promising run, the team failed to recreate its form in Russia. Around the same time, Egypt’s FA officially confirmed the end of Cúper’s tenure. Under his leadership, Egypt entered the tournament with high hopes but exited in last place without a single point. Although his contract had always been set to expire post-World Cup, both sides had discussed an extension before kickoff.

Hailing from Argentina, Héctor Cúper had a respected coaching history in La Liga and Serie A, notably leading Valencia to two UEFA Champions League finals. He took over Egypt in March 2015 and helped the team return to the African Cup of Nations after a three-year absence, eventually guiding them to their first World Cup appearance in 28 years. Cúper also reached the African Cup final in his first attempt with a national team, though he was again plagued by his long-standing misfortune in finals.

Hierro, meanwhile, is a Spanish football icon and former captain of Real Madrid. Just days before the tournament, chaos erupted when then-manager Julen Lopetegui announced he would take over at Real Madrid post-World Cup. This led to his immediate dismissal by the Spanish Football Federation, forcing Hierro to take the reins just 48 hours before the tournament began. Jeetbuzz App Download notes that this last-minute shake-up cast a long shadow over Spain’s campaign.

Spain’s performance fell far short of expectations. In the group stage, they barely scraped by with one win and two draws. Their final match saw them pushed to the brink by Morocco, a team already eliminated. Though they still topped the group thanks to goal difference, Spain couldn’t find a breakthrough against host nation Russia in the round of 16 and were ultimately eliminated on penalties. It was a bitter end—and a major factor in Hierro’s decision to step down. Once again, fate didn’t smile on Cúper either, who had to watch Cameroon lift the trophy he’d come so close to.