IKER CASILLAS FANS

Real Madrid goalkeeper Iker Casillas has just accomplished another record in his illustrious career – he has just become the most capped player for Spain, which is quite a feat considering that he has also managed to win the likes of the World Cup and the European championships with his national team. Former ‘keeper Andoni Zubizarreta held the record for having the most number of caps for Spain, but it is now Real Madrid goalkeeper Iker Casillas who is now top of the standings.

Casillas made his 127th appearance in the match against Costa Rica. He is quite a long way ahead of the next placed current player. Xavi is the only likely candidate who can beat Iker Casillas at the moment, with the Barcelona midfielder having 107 caps. However, he is unlikely to beat the achievements of Casillas given that the 30-year-old goalkeeper still has a long way to go into game, while the same cannot be said of the 32-year-old midfielder Xavi.

Speaking after making the record, Iker Casillas said, “Its difficult to take it. When you live with the idea of being considered among the greats, you don’t really pay attention to it. When I retire from football and look back at the statistics, I’ll relish it more than now. I just want to be at Poland-Ukraine for Euro 2012 and to hopefully play even more games!”

Iker said that one of his most memorable moments of his 127 caps had been the save he made from Arjen Robben in the World Cup final of 2010. Robben moved clear of the defence and had a one-on-one with the goalkeeper, but Casillas produced an outstanding save to keep his side in the match. It proved to be the vital save of the whole match as Netherlands rarely threatened the goal afterwards, and Iniesta scored for Spain.

Victor Valdes at least needs to play for Spain he&aposs greater than Casillas – by LdottyK (Lennox Kwan)

Pinalty
Video clip Rating: two / five

That&aposs the explanation Casillas is #1 for Spain – by jwdd27 (Joel Davies)

Write-up by Audrey Nolan

The United Stated defeated on Wednesday the No.1 team Spain, in the semifinals for the Confederations Cup, two-, in a beautiful match that left everyone breathless.

The probabilities of the Americans beating the Spaniards in which minimal considering that the final 3 performances of the US crew have not been the greatest. They misplaced their first two video games in the Confederations Cup, the very first one particular towards Italy and the second one in opposition to the defending champion Brazil.

This is one of the most significant defeats in football history Spain had a 35-game unbeaten streak document from December 1993 to January 1996, and currently had the worldwide document of fifteen straight wins, but that streak went away in a quite unlikely way towards the United States this Wednesday in the Confederations Cup semifinals.

Given that the starting of the sport, the United States group was main the game. Their performance was outstanding, leaving aside what they did in the previous three games except for the sport towards Egypt, which they won as well.

The first target arrived at moment 27th when Davies started out a play and threw the ball to Dempsey and then he passed about to Jozy Altidore, who struggled a minor towards Capdevila, he around passed him and fired a shot from the penalty location and though goalkeeper Iker Casillas touched the ball, it was not ample and the ball went in. The 2nd target was a play began by Captain Landon Donovan, who created a pass to Clint Dempsey who slipped the ball to pass Casillas for the 2nd and final objective of the sport.

“It’s fascinating, a wonderful staff effort. To beat an wonderful crew like Spain and make the last, it’s large,” U.S. coach Bob Bradley said. “We played as tough as we could and that’s what it took. Every man contributed, so it is a really good feeling.”

The United States now will have to face South Africa or the defending Champion, Brazil and will have three complete days to recover some energy and face the final that will be held up coming Sunday. This is the 1st time ever that the US team gets to the final of a FIFA tournament.

For their portion, Spain played in a really disappointing way, considerably unexpected due to the stage of sport that they have in Europe, especially in Spain. Most of the people around the planet could have imagined that it was almost certain that Spain would be in the last, but at the conclude it was a surprising US crew, extremely solid and accurate in every component of the sport, they genuinely deserved the victory.

For his portion coach Vicente del Bosque expressed that they are not used to lose a sport but that is a thing that could happen. He also mentioned that the United States was a excellent rival and that in the match they had been far better than them.

The United States will be lacking midfielder Michael Bradley, who acquired a red card for a tackle in 87th minute and will not be in the ultimate subsequent Sunday.

The principal aim correct now for the US crew is to win the ultimate, and to qualify for the 2010 World Cup, if they keep playing as they did on Wednesday, they could surely complete it.

About the Author

About the AuthorAudrey Nolan is a top senior duplicate writer on European Football and sports activities action for the on the internet sportsbetting: http://www.instantactionsports.com/uk Feel no cost to reprint this post in its entirety on your site, make confident to leave all hyperlinks in area and do not modify any of the content material.

Report by Suresh Iyer

Spain manufactured it to their very first ever before World Cup ultimate, thanks to a Puyol header in 74th moment of their semi-last in opposition to Germany in Durban.

After their fourth win on the trot, Spain head for Soccer City in which they will take on Holland on Sunday.

Spain dominated possession in a win that was not the vintage class we have come to anticipate of Spain.

The game was not as patchy as Spain’s exhibiting against Paraguay, but Del Bosque’s guys failed to create openings.

Puyol missed a sitter in the very first fifty percent but far more than made up with his header into the net, off Xavi’s corner, with a little over sixteen minutes to go.

A counter-attacking run by Pedro really should have manufactured it two-, but the young forward tried to do it all himself, as a substitute of passing to an unmarked Torres, who came in for Villa, with ten minutes of regulation time remaining.

Germany, possibly wary of Spain’s creativity in front of target, played an overly defensive sport, and failed to take the sport to Spain even though the heading was great.

With 4 objectives in each and every of their earlier matches in opposition to England and Argentina, Germany had been anticipated to be a lot more pro-active in attack.

But Spain gave them couple of counter attacking possibilities, and Germany ended up on the dropping facet in their second successive Planet Cup semi-ultimate.

Having made the decision to drop the out of sort Torres, Del Bosque employed Villa as his lone striker and drafted Pedro to bolster the Spain assault.

Germany played an organized game and stood up to Spain even as Del Bosque’s group dominated midfield with deft passing.

Barely 5 minutes into the match, Pedro teed the ball in to Villa who reduce by way of the German defence for a shot at objective but Neuer introduced off a fine conserve, and the hazard was past.

In other missed possibilities, a Puyol header off an Iniesta cross went about the bar, and a Sergio Ramos’ shot off an aerial cross-discipline pass from Xabi Alonso went broad off target.

Germany received their very first counter attacking option in the 22nd moment, but the move fizzled out with poor coordination involving Pudolski and Oezil.

Germany should rue what they assumed was a penalty opportunity in damage time in the course of the first half, Oezil collapsing in the box, beneath a problem from Ramos. Oezil was set through through an incisive pass from Klose, but the referee possibly felt the first get in touch with was produced exterior the box.

In the 2nd half, Spain grew progressively threatening, retaining possession of the ball, and hovering close to the German goal.

Spain’s dominance was underscored by a few of vast shots from Alonso, a low curling energy from Villa, and a Pedro shot that necessary Neuer to deliver off a sharp preserve.

Marcell Jansen and Toni Kroos came in for Jerome Boateng and Trochowski as Loew tried to break the defensive stalemate for Germany.

Podolski’s cross to Kroos tested Casillas in goal, but the Puyol match-winner arrived moments later on.

About the Author

For the most recent sports activities gossip and information you will not locate everywhere else on the World wide web, and to obtain a Free of charge Ebook on the 2010 FIFA Entire world Cup, click http://www.cricinfosite.com

Suresh Iyer is an avid sports activities fan and blogger.

Article by Stephen Lars

Soon after three excellent victories to Iraq, New Zealand and South Africa, the Spanish group was a single of the favorites to win the Confederations Cup, but the two- loss they suffered in the semi-finals to United States altered the entire photograph for the team headed by Vicente Del Bosque, which had no other selection but to battle for 3rd a area, whereas Brazil and USA had been the ones that moved to the grand final.

Not reaching the final seemed to have affected the Spaniards’ encouragement, which came to the Confederations Cup as the most current European champions, acquiring won the EURO 2008. No doubt the reduction in the semis was not a excellent motivator for a crew like Spain, which had an remarkable debut in South Africa with a crushing 5- around New Zealand.

Currently being the favorite was not a extremely beneficial, since the degree of football of some of their opponents at the tournament was obviously inferior and this crammed them with uncertainty relating to their genuine stage. The discomfort of Spain was apparent at the meeting before the United States, exactly where some defensive errors and unwise modifications of Del Bosque led them to the defeat.

In the fixture for 3rd spot, which Spain won with a final score of 3-two, it was in fact the South Africa crew which started off dominating the sport, whereas their opponents lacked the velocity that the host group showed from the commence.

The match started out with each groups attacking each other straight in the aim region, which doubled the operate of the defense and goalkeepers of the two groups. The atmosphere of the initial component remained charged with dangerous and enjoyable game action that at instances threatened with opening the score at any moment.

Nonetheless, the targets have been left for the 2nd portion of the match, in which some successful modifications had been produced on the two the South Africans and Spaniards. These modifications gave a flip to the meeting, which became more quickly and was total of thrilling plays that had equally Iker Casillas and Khun Itumeleng on continuous alert.

From Spain, the most notorious and productive modify was the entrance of Daniel Guiza, who arrived to replace Fernando Torres, even though South Africa observed a good harmony by changing Steven Pienaar with Katlego Mphela, who was accountable for opening the scoring right after 73 minutes to take benefit of an error from the defense Alvaro Arbeloa, who did not cover his region effectively and permitted Mphela to pass and throw a shot that went straight to the bottom of Casillas’ target.

Prepared to get the third position of the Confederations Cup, the Spaniards made a decision not to be intimidated by the pressure from their opponents and it was then when Guiza appeared to score a aim at minute 87, an action that was repeated just a minute later on and put the score two-one in favour of Spain and made Guiza to became the figure of the Europe champions.

When every thing seemed to go in favour of the Spaniards, Mphela appeared once more tying the score at two-2 at the 90th so the game had to be defined in additional time. Spain faced its opponents practically with out force and at moment 103, Xavi Alonso marked the target that gave a deserved victory.

About the Author

About the AuthorStephen Lars has been a prominent writer on standard European Football games, sports activities information and the online betting marketplace for numerous exceptional sports activities world wide web web sites. You could reprint this report in its total material, please note no modifications to it are accepted.

Article by Suresh Iyer

Spain’s search for a aim arrived right after 117 minutes of regulation when Andres Iniesta latched on to a Torres pass in front of objective mouth, and shot property to aid Spain win football’s largest prize of all. In the method, Holland tasted defeat for the third time in a last.

In a match that became progressively physical with the two sides discouraged in their bid to score, Holland had purpose for annoyance, when moments earlier, referee Webb selected to dismiss a palpable deflection off Fabregas following a free kick, and did not award a corner.

It was a deserved victory for Spain in a tense match of frayed tempers that saw the awarding of 14 yellow cards including a 2nd yellow to Heitinga and a consequential sending off, in the 109th minute.

If the Dutch had won it would have created them only the second crew to go through a World Cup (qualifying matches included) unvanquished. Brazil remain the only crew to have attained it, in 1970.

Spain keeper and captain, Casillas prevented Arjen Robben from scoring in a one-on-one particular contest in the second fifty percent that would have offered Holland the lead.

Sergio Ramos and Fabregas, a late entrant as substitute, also missed equivalent chances for Spain, Ramos heading the ball over.

But Fabregas a lot more than created up with a by way of ball to Iniesta that gave Spain their target and win, in a Globe Cup that saw them losing their opening match. Spain also set a file by profitable the Entire world Cup with the fewest targets scored, eight in seven matches.

A spectacular closing ceremony attended by former president Nelson Mandela was contrasted by a boring 1st 50 percent.

Spain began with fantastic intent, keeping possession, and finding past a tentative Holland defence. Only a brilliant conserve by Stekelenburg could keep Ramos’s header out in the 4th moment.

Holland struggled to get a grip on the proceedings, and their rhythm was more upset by a flurry of yellow cards awarded by referee Webb.

Five yellow cards marked the very first 28 minutes of play, with some tough tackles leaving Webb with no option.

Holland’s van Bommel’s rear assault on Iniesta got him a yellow even so, de Jong was lucky to escape booking soon after planting a foot on Xabi Alonso’s chest. Alonso wasted the resultant free kick determining to shoot straight from past forty yards, instead of combining with a teammate.

Robben reduce within for the duration of damage time and a low left-footer induced a brilliant save from Casillas.

Instantly right after half-time, Spain missed heading ahead, when Capdevila failed to get a touch on Puyol’s flick-on.

There were flashes of brilliance in a 2nd fifty percent that noticed the bookings carry on. A via ball from Sneider – strangely quiet on the night – and a delayed shot off it by Robben was only just kept out with an outstretched leg, by Casillas.

This was followed by an unmarked Ramos heading a corner over, for Spain.

Fleetfooted Robben ruled his left flank, and the Spain defence was examined sorely. On such a burst from the Bayern Munich star, Puyol resorted to a rough tackle, and with Robben staying on his feet, Webb chose to dismiss the infringement. Robben’s shot at goal was denied by a brilliant Casillas preserve.

Spain grew to become more and more dominant, with Xavi stamping his impact on a match that appeared headed for further time.

Fabregas came in for Alonso in the 87th moment, and had an instant shot at objective off an Iniesta pass, but Stekelenburg created outstanding use of his legs to deny Spain.

Fabregas repayed Iniesta with a by means of pass, soon right after, but Iniesta invested also significantly time on the ball, at 18 yards, permitting van der Weil to dispossess him.

With ten minutes to go in the 2nd fifty percent of additional time, Heitinga earned his second caution, and was sent off right after he tackled Iniesta on the edge of the box.

Joris Mathijsen late header could have got Holland by way of, against the run of play. But moments later, Iniesta had his final say…

About the Author

For the newest sports gossip and news you will not find everywhere else on the Web, and to download a Totally free Ebook on the 2010 FIFA Globe Cup, click http://www.cricinfosite.com

Suresh Iyer is an avid sports activities fan and blogger.

I wanna go to Spain so badly, I wanna meet Iker Casillas, please please uuuu – by grandisbrendy (grandis sheila)

Given that Valdes is behind Casillas and Reina for Spain, does that make him Spain&aposs solution to RobGreen? – by paulfraserecho (Paul Fraser)