Yahoo – AFP,
Kieran Canning, 14 June 2014
World champions Spain's 5-1 mauling by the Netherlands was especially symbolic for the disastrous role played by captain and talisman of three consecutive major tournament victories Iker Casillas.
World champions Spain's 5-1 mauling by the Netherlands was especially symbolic for the disastrous role played by captain and talisman of three consecutive major tournament victories Iker Casillas.
The
32-year-old was clearly at fault for the Netherlands’ fourth goal, slotted home
by Robin Van Persie, and was earlier booked for his protests after claiming he
had been fouled by the Manchester United striker as he flapped to allow Stefan
de Vrij to make it 3-1.
The Real
Madrid stopper has endured the most difficult 18 month stretch of his
illustrious career.
Spain's
goalkeeper Iker Casillas (centre) is
booked by Italian referee Nicola Rizzoli
during a World Cup match at the Fonte Nova
Arena in Salvador, on June 13, 2014.
(Photo:
Lluis Gene)
|
Yet,
Casillas did play in both the Copa del Rey and Champions League and ended the
club season on a high by lifting Real's 10th European Cup, a feeling he
described as even greater than winning the World Cup.
His chances
of winning more silverware come July 13 now seem remote, though, as Casillas
was beaten more times in a rampant 46 minutes from the Dutch than he had been
in his previous two major tournaments.
Spain will
now almost certainly need to win both their remaining games against Chile and
Australia just to set up a likely meeting with Brazil in the last 16.
"I am
the first one to ask for forgiveness," he admitted.
"It
wasn't my best game by a long way because I wasn't up to the task required and
I have to know how to face this type of situation.
"I
need to receive the criticisms I know I will receive and think about training
and think about the next game."
Yet, so out
of character was his performance that there may not even be a next game for
Casillas.
"If I
play or left on the bench the manager will decide. All I can do is train
well," he added.
Del Bosque
has always been fiercely loyal to those that have succeeded at previous
tournaments, including Casillas at last year's Confederations Cup despite the
fact he hadn't played a competitive game with Real for six months.
Yet, the
manner in which the Dutch ripped apart the Spanish methodology for that
glorious six-year run in just one half of football could force Del Bosque into
taking big decisions.
Particularly
since the former Real boss took charge following the first Euro success in
2008, Spain's game has been based on control of the ball and not conceding.
They have
kept 10 consecutive clean sheets in knockout games and, when they most needed
him, Casillas has always proved the security blanket.
In 2008 he
saved two Italian penalties as Spain finally overcame their run of falling at
the quarter-final stage on their way to a first tournament win in 44 years.
He made a
fine stop with his outstretched foot two years later to prevent Arjen Robben
winning the World Cup for the Dutch and was a hero in another penalty shootout
in 2012 at the Euros to deny Portugal in the semi-finals.
On Friday,
Robben got his revenge as he also bagged a brace and as Casillas sunk to his
knees following the fifth goal, the image of a golden Spanish generation on its
last legs was defined.
Spain's
coach Vicente Del Bosque (L) talks with Spain's goalkeeper Iker
Casillas during
a training session on June 14, 2014 (AFP Photo/Lluis Gene)
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Casillas must not be World Cup scapegoat: Del Bosque - New
It's 5-1: The Dutch hammer Spain in World Cup opener
Wat. Een. Foto! pic.twitter.com/OcmwIrGFxF
— Lara Rense (@Laradio) June 13, 2014
Relationships be like #WorldCup2014 #spainvsnetherlands pic.twitter.com/2cD2XR1vE8
— Mona (@mona_not_lisa) June 13, 2014
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