Saez's first decision was to replace Morientes with Juan Carlos Valeron. In the space of 36 seconds the Deportivo La Coruna star had justified the switch with the breakthrough goal from a Carles Puyol cross.
His first touch after coming on was to control the ball, his second was to drive it past Sergei Ovchinnikov.
It should have been all over but Russia, inspired by the composure of Alexei Smertin, in central defence rather than midfield, battled back, with Dmitry Alenichev ' s cr eativity a constant threat.
Coach Georgi Yartsev's aftermatch confidence in Russia's powers of recovery was ridiculed by experienced midfielder Alexander Mostovoi, however.
'We were totally shattered. I don't think Spain were worked as hard as we were before this tournament,' said Mostovoi, 35, who plays his club football in Spain with Celta Vigo.
'I'm really angry about it and I don't think we'll qualify now.'
Yartsev responded by taking a pot-shot at the midfielders, criticising their lack of support for lone striker Dmitry Bulykin.
He also said his players did not stick to their game-plan after the hard- working Spaniards dominated the opening half-hour before the physically stronger Russians got into the match.
Russia have failed to make an impact in either the World Cup or European Championship since the collapse of the Soviet Union.
Indeed, their last win in this tournament dates back to 1988 when the then Soviet Union beat Italy to reach the final, where they were beaten by an excellent Dutch team.
Failure to beat Portugal will stretch Russia's winless run at the European Championship Finals to a record nine games.
The Russians, already hit by injuries, face a fresh selection problem in central defence on Wednesday when Roman Sharonov will be suspended after his red card against Spain.
Spain's problems, meanwhile, were centred on Morientes and Raul as Saez suggested he would probably make changes
for Wednesday in Oporto.
He would not reveal publicly the extent of his disappointment with his first choice, only saying: 'It wasn't working out for Morientes. I wanted to push Raul further forward and we needed a player like Valeron to thread passes through.
'He took his chance well but that is the kind of opportunity I expect a player like him to take. I am happy with the work they have done.'
If he feels Torres, Atletico Madrid's highly-talented and powerful 20- year- old, and Valeron can be the partnership that carries Spain forward, will he have the courage to tell Raul to stand down?
More questions. But that is traditional in Spain as the country waits to see if this is going to be their time at last.
