12 Jul 2010 :: Spain's Iker Casillas wins Golden Glove
Spanish shot-stopper Iker Casillas has won the Golden Glove in South Africa after conceding only two goals all tournament.
In recognition of his quality performances that helped la Furia Roja to their first-ever World Cup trophy, FIFA has announced that the winner of the Golden Glove award in the 2010 World Cup is Iker Casillas. The Real Madrid shot-stopper won the award ahead of Netherlands' Maarten Stekelenburg and Germany's Manuel Neuer. Casillas is a veteran of the national side, with 111 caps, and has been recognised as one of the best goalkeepers in Europe. He was ranked fourth in the 2008 European Footballer of the Year voting, and also the highest ranked goalkeeper in 2009. The Iberian was also voted into the UEFA Team of the Year for a third consecutive time. Source: ESPN/Star 12 Jul 2010 :: Casillas true hero as Iniesta steals headlines
JOHANNESBURG — Andres Iniesta may grab the backpage headlines for his dramatic extra-time winner in the World Cup final on Sunday but the true match-winner was goalkeeper Iker Casillas.
Being a football goalkeeper can be a precarious and lonely business at times as shot-stoppers are far more often branded as villains than heroes. But the international goalkeeping fraternity will have noted with delight the two vital interventions made by Spain captain Casillas. 11 Jul 2010 :: Reluctant saint Casillas keeps danger at bay
POTCHEFSTROOM South Africa (Reuters) - Iker Casillas does not approve of his nickname "Saint Iker" although his often miraculous saves for club and country have earned him the adoration of fans and team mates alike.
The 29-year-old Spain captain has already played 110 times for his country, just 16 short of the all-time record held by fellow keeper Andoni Zubizarreta, leading the team to glory at Euro 2008 and to the brink of a first World Cup triumph. 11 Jul 2010 :: Casillas, Del Bosque dream of World Cup unity
JOHANNESBURG — On the eve of leading his country into their first World Cup final on Sunday, Spain captain Iker Casillas admitted he has a few butterflies, but is thinking only of lifting the trophy.
The 29-year-old Real Madrid goalkeeper will be winning his 111th cap in the final against the Netherlands at Johannesburg's Soccer City. Having lifted the Euro 2008 title in Vienna two years ago, Casillas said winning the World Cup would be a dream come true and has given no thought to a Dutch victory with both sides bidding for their first world title. Having lost their opening group game to Switzerland in a shock upset, Spain have gone from strength to strength. "We are a little nervous, it is a very important match for us, we have come a long way and have a few butterflies in the stomach," said Casillas. 11 Jul 2010 :: Casillas says nerves have hit Spain
Spain skipper Iker Casillas has admitted the team has been suffering from nerves at the World Cup.
The European champions face the Netherlands in Sunday's final, despite not always being at their brilliant best in South Africa. "We've felt a bit anxious all the way through the tournament, even the early matches," said the Real Madrid keeper. "This is a very important match - the most important of our careers - and we do feel nervous." Spain went into the tournament as favourites to win their first ever World Cup, but lost to Switzerland in their opening group game, before recovering to qualify for the knockout stages as Group H winners. 10 Jul 2010 :: Yet another landmark figure
Iker Casillas sets a new record with Spain by keeping a clean sheet for 313 minutes in a World Cup
Iker Casillas has become one of the stars of the 2010 World Cup thanks to the decisive role he plays with Spain. Following the victory over the Netherlands in the semifinals, the Real Madrid goalkeeper set a new record with the national team by keeping a clean sheet for 313 minutes in the championship. The last goal Casillas conceded was the sole strike Chile netted against Spain in the group stages. No other team has since managed to defeat the keeper, who even saved a penalty against Paraguay. The previous record was held by goalies Eizaguirre and Ramallets, who were undefeated for 282 minutes during the 1950 World Cup following a strike by the USA's Souza. Spain then won 2-0 against Chile and 1-0 against England. The Reds finished in fourth place in that edition of the championship. Source: Real Madrid 10 Jul 2010 :: Casillas: Dutch not all about Robben
Spain goalkeeper Iker Casillas has warned his side not to focus all their attention on Arjen Robben during Sunday's final.
The La Roja, in their first ever World Cup final, are on the brink of making further history by winning it and becoming the first European nation to be crowned world champions outside their continent. But Casillas urged his side not to dwell too much on that and, instead, keep their focus on the task ahead. "The game against Holland is the most important game in our history. But we are not champions yet. There are conflicting feelings: we're neither very confident that we will win nor are we fearful of losing," the Real Madrid keeper told a press conference on Friday. 10 Jul 2010 :: World Cup lifts Spain's gloom
Spain's unprecedented success at the World Cup finals is helping people forget the country's economic woes, captain Iker Casillas said on Friday.
Spain has one of the highest unemployment rates in Europe and the Socialist government in Madrid has introduced tough austerity measures, including wage cuts for public-sector workers, in a bid to prevent a Greek-style debt crisis. A wave of joy swept across the Iberian nation after Wednesday's 1-0 victory over Germany in the semi-finals and Casillas and his team mates will bid for a first Spanish World Cup triumph against Netherlands in the final on Sunday. "Many people are having a bad time because of the (financial) crisis and this is a tremendous joy that makes us forget everything around us," goalkeeper Casillas said in an interview with Radio Marca. "I am a privileged person but I have family and friends and I know what people are going through," he added. Wednesday's match in Durban was screened on 14 million Spanish television sets and captured over 80 per cent of the television audience, a media consultancy said. Some in Spain have likened the distraction of the World Cup to the "bread and circuses" provided to the population of ancient Rome to prevent unrest. Source: The Sydney Morning Herald 10 Jul 2010 :: Spanish fans put faith in 'Saint Iker'
OHANNESBURG - So much for the theory that curvaceous sideline television reporter Sara Carbonero had taken Spanish goalie Iker Casillas off his, ah, game.
When Spain was upset 1-0 in its opening match against Switzerland at World Cup 2010, critics accused Casillas of being distracted by Carbonero, his main squeeze. All Casillas has done since those foolish suggestions is lead Spain to five consecutive victories and a berth in the World Cup final against The Netherlands Sunday. Over that span, he has allowed just one goal in 450-plus minutes of action, a remarkable streak that bodes well for Spain's chances of capturing its first-ever World Cup crown. It hasn't necessarily come easy for him, either. His penalty stop on Paraguay's Oscar Cardozo preserved a scoreless tie and was the turning point in Spain's 1-0 quarterfinal victory. He did the same in the semi versus Germany, thwarting Toni Kroos just minutes before the Spanish scored the only goal of the game. Now comes the matchup against the Netherlands. It will be, he said, the most crucial match ever played by the Spanish national team. "The game against Holland is the most important game in our history," Casillas said Friday. "But we are not champions yet. "There are conflicting feelings. We're neither very confident that we will win nor are we fearful of losing." Casillas is not buying into the notion that the Dutch will play a conservative game. "I do not think they are defensive," he said. "They have quick players and, like us, they will remain faithful to their style. We know that (Arjen) Robben is fast, powerful and strong. I am concerned that if he pulls from the outside, we have to try to cover him. "But Holland are not only about Robben. They are strong in defence and in midfield. (Wesley) Sneijder and (Dirk) Kuyt are also important and just as dangerous." In the battle of title match goalkeepers, Casillas has the distinct advantage in terms of experience, coming into the game with 110 caps. By comparison, his Dutch counterpart, Maarten Stekelenburg, has just 32. Yet another reason why the Spanish fans, who call him "Saint Iker," are very optimistic about Sunday's result. Source: Toronto Sun 07 Jul 2010 :: Casillas - Biggest match ever
Skipper primed for final four showdown
Spain goalkeeper Iker Casillas says his team's World Cup semi-final clash with Germany is the most important match in their history. The Spanish have been perennial under-achievers on the international stage in world football but won the 2008 European Championship to temper that long-standing disappointment. But triumph in Vienna has been quickly forgotten, according to Casillas, who says his people want a World Cup win to bask in after ending their 44-year wait for a major trophy two years ago. Victory over Germany in Durban would book a place in Sunday's final and make that prospect possible and the captain admitted he was acutely aware of the pressure on his side. The 29-year-old said on the Spanish soccer federation's official website: "People are not telling us how good we were at Euro 2008." "People are saying we have to win the World Cup. The people want the World Cup" Content Management Powered by CuteNews |