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Posted at 10:30 AM EST.

2:00 PM EST. Spain is one of the "big four" teams in this tournament and there is no doubt that it is a powerhouse that could win the World Cup, but the Red Fury lived up to their moniker after sporting director Fernando Hierro sacked former manager Julen Lopetegui after the latter took the vacant Real Madrid posting without informing his now ex-boss. Lopetegui had just signed a contract extension through 2020 and committed in public that his focus was on the national side. However, those words may ring hollow now that he's headed for Estadio Santiago Bernabéu. Firing a manager who had been previously undefeated at the helm just two days before what is supposed to be Spain's redemption at football's highest level reeks of Hierro cutting off his nose to spite his face. Spanish captain Sergio Ramos described the atmosphere around this team as it gets ready for this heavyweight tilt with Portugal, "It feels like we're in a funeral parlor when the World Cup is starting." Ramos added, "We have to turn the page because this hasn't been pleasant. I hope we can have a national team like we had before." Mindset is everything and those words do not inspire much confidence. Perhaps the Fury can rally around this adversity and start this World Cup on a positive note, but even at the best of times, the Spaniards have been traditionally slow starters in this tournament winning just two of its last 12 opening games with three draws and seven losses. Those previous results have no bearing here, but the pressure is on Hierro, who has never managed at this level. His only experience as the head man came in 2016-17 when he took over Oviedo for just one season. Hierro left the club after missing out on the promotional playoffs on the season's final match day.

Portugal comes into World Cup 2018 with some drama of its own, but their headlines are at least limited to just one player, Cristiano Ronaldo. The 33-year-old is still one of the best players in the world, but he appears to be on his way out at Real Madrid after handshake promises from management have left him feeling slighted, as he's now just the third highest paid player in the world. In his defense, CR7 is making nearly $23.5 million less than Paris Saint-Germain's Neymar in salary, but Ronaldo makes far more than the Brazilian when you factor in his licensing and endorsement deals. Club drama aside, it's hard not to think that the Euro 2016 Champions are being disrespected here. Many pundits have discounted that 2016 run because Ronaldo and company failed to win a match during the round robin and squeaked by Poland in the quarter-finals on penalties. While the early going was tough, clean sheet wins over Wales (2-0) and France (1-0) in extra time in the semi-finals and finals respectively should not be ignored when breaking down that European championship run.

At 22-1, oddsmakers figure the Portuguese have a much tougher road to the World Cup than the Spanish (6-1), but in a tournament such as this, anything can happen. To suggest that Spain's self-imposed sanctions won't affect its players would be naive and as we mentioned above, their captain pulled no punches when asked about the unnecessary upheaval. Spain also has much more to lose here, especially now that the spotlight on them is white hot. If this Spanish side comes out playing not to lose, it might be a long night on the pitch. Meanwhile, the core group on the Portuguese side, even with its aging defense has fought and overcome adversity and won some big games in tournaments that matter. It's expected both of these sides will go through to the knockout stage, as not much is expected of either Morocco or Iran. So even if they lose this game, Portugal is still likely to finish second in Group B. However, unlike the Spanish, the Portuguese have nothing to lose here and it will be playing with house money, so that's how we're going to bet it. Portugal outright is the call.

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