Iker Casillas may have won almost every trophy there is to win in football but it’s becoming increasingly clear there’s one thing he should lose – his place as Spain’s first-choice goalkeeper. The Real Madrid captain had a poor World Cup and his international form was little better as La Roja were beaten by Slovakia in Euro 2016 qualifying.
Casillas made one stunning save with the game goalless and, minutes later, wasted it by failing to stop Juraj Kucka’s long-range free-kick. The Genoa midfielder struck the ball well and there was some movement through the air – but not enough to deceive Casillas to the extent it did. He dived past the ball, then threw a hand towards it, in vain, as the shot found the net and put Slovakia on the way to a famous win.
The 33-year-old wasn’t at fault for Miroslav Stoch’s winning goal, having no chance from a lightning break and perfect cross that the winger headed home. And the rest of his performance was decent enough – neither spectacularly bad nor spectacularly good. But this is a Spain team that has struggled for goals, with first Fernando Torres and now Diego Costa leading the line.
Torres was a shell of his former self, eroded perhaps by injuries, and finally put out to pasture after the World Cup. Costa’s Spain form, meanwhile, has been far short of his club form, although his display in Slovakia was probably his best for Spain. He didn’t score, though, and until the goals start to flow, each mistake by Casillas is one more Spain have to make back. A more reliable goalkeeper would help both ends of the pitch.
If Vicente Del Bosque was short on options in goal then his loyalty to Casillas would at least be understandable. But the squad to play Slovakia and Luxembourg – on Sunday – also contains David De Gea, Casillas’ new understudy after Victor Valdes’ injury. De Gea has become one of the Premier League’s best goalkeepers and, 10 years Casillas’ junior, could be Spain’s goalkeeper for a long time to come. His time should be now.
