FIFA World Cup Final: Iker Casillas Hails Historic Win
The Real Madrid goal keeper has come out and said that the magnitude of the win is not yet realized by the players. Spain, who were being captained by Iker Casillas, won their first World Cup final by defeating Netherlands in the final match of the 2010 FIFA World Cup by a goal to nil.
The only goal of the match came from the Spanish midfielder Andres Iniesta, a player who was terrific on the Spains night of Glory. Iniesta’s goal came deep in the second period of extra time after normal half had ended with clean sheets for both the sides.
Iker Casillas also put in a tremendously brave performance on the night as he denied his ex-team mate Arjen Robben twice in a one-on-one situation, to retain Spain’s record of 4 consecutive clean sheets. Casillas had been criticized by the press and even by his girlfriend after making a mistake which led towards a goal, in Spain’s first world cup group stage match against Switzerland.
Casillas had lost his crown as the best goalkeeper in the World to other shot stoppers such as Buffon of Italy and Julio Caesar of Brazil in recent years. However, now after leading his national team to World Cup glory, he has truly regained that crown.
Iker said that Spain’s victory over the Dutch was a historical moment. He added that the size of the feat that the players had pulled off will be remembered in years to come. He also said that the players themselves at the present moment have not realized the extent of this achievement.
Casillas is a true product of Spanish football, as he has played for Spain at the U15 level, as well as the Under 16, 17, 18, 20 and 21 levels. Casillas’s skills with the goal have been refined by Real Madrid, as the goalkeeper was playing for them in their first team when he was 19 years old.
He holds the record for being the youngest ever player to win the Champions League after winning it with Real Madrid in 2000 at the tender age of 19. Casillas has also become the third keeper in international football to lift the World Cup as a captain for his national team.
The first goal keeper to do this was Gianpiero Combi of Italy when his team won the World Cup in 1934 as the host nation. The second goalkeeper to achieve this feat was Dino Zoff who was also Italian. Zoff was the captain when Italy won the 1982 FIFA World Cup.
The Spanish captain said after the match that winning the World Cup is something that players dream of from their childhood days. He also stated that it was not easy for the Spanish to win the final match but they pulled through.
Iker Casillas also commented on the two saves he made during the match. He refused to be acknowledged as a saint and said that his work is the result of his experience. He also said that he is overjoyed after winning the match and that he had a lot of support from his friends and family during the World Cup.
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