World Cup 2018: Spain can't afford to relax against 'excellent' Morocco, warns Fernando Hierro

Spain coach Fernando Hierro is not underestimating Morocco in tonight’s Group B decider.

Spain need a positive result to guarantee progress to the knockout stages, but Morocco have won admirers in Russia, despite being the first team to be eliminated from this World Cup, following 1-0 defeats to Iran and Portugal.

“We know that Morocco are an excellent team,” Hierro said. “We can’t afford to relax. We need to be awake, with our eyes open, and also be aware that Morocco aren’t going to give anything away.

“This is a World Cup with a level playing field. Almost all the big teams are having a hard time and there is more equality. Everybody is working harder, everybody does great analysis, has great scouts and is working at a high level. It’s good for football that any team can have a hard time against any other team. That’s what makes football so beautiful.”

Hierro’s side beat Iran 1-0 last Wednesday, thanks to a fortuitous deflection off Diego Costa’s knee.

Hierro had replaced Julen Lopetegui as Spain’s coach two days before their opening game, a dramatic 3-3 draw with Portugal, and he insisted he is in charge, despite suggestions that Spain’s experienced squad are essentially self-managing.

“I was named head coach and that’s that,” he said.

“As soon as I became coach, I was 100 per cent the coach. Nothing else.”

Morocco, meanwhile, will head home with a lingering sense of injustice, whatever the outcome in Kaliningrad tonight.

Coach Herve Renard feels his side have been on the wrong end of refereeing decisions in both their defeats.

“When you look at the facts in the Portugal game, it’s totally unfair,” said Renard, who said he would name his XI as if Morocco could still reach the last-16.

“For the goal we conceded, there was an obvious foul by Pepe at the front post. Why did the referee not see it? It’s unfair that we’re already eliminated.”