Rio Ferdinand: 'Spain deserved to exit 2018 World Cup'

Former England centre-back Rio Ferdinand has claimed that "Spain got what they deserved" as the 2010 world champions lost to Russia in the last-16 stage of the 2018 World Cup.

Russia won 4-3 on penalties following a 1-1 draw in Moscow, with the host nation surprisingly progressing to the quarter-finals at the expense of La Roja.

Ferdinand has claimed that Spain's lack of a 'Plan B' cost them the chance to progress in the competition.

"Spain have been so successful with that style of possession football but there comes a time when you have to get the ball into the strikers. You have to change it up a bit. Spain got what they deserved," Ferdinand told BBC Sport.

Spain sacked their manager Julen Lopetegui just before the tournament in Russia, with Fernando Hierro placed in charge on an interim basis.