They make an odd couple, the young, athletic Iker Casillas and Luis Aragones, who can only be described these days as geriatric (sorry, but it’s true).
But still, there they were on Spanish television as Sr. Zapatero, the Prime Minister of Spain, publicly congratulated them both on their victory against Italy, as well as good luck against upcoming opponents, Russia.
The game that preceded the comical but pleasant interview was one that involved two heavy-hitters of world football: Italy—perennial favorite and current reigning world champion, and Spain—perennial failure and trophy-less since 1964.
The quality on show was superb, even taking into account Italy’s depleted side (missing Andrea Pirlo and Gattuso through suspension) and turned out to be a real showcase of tactical football. The defensive shapes of both teams were excellent.
Italy closed down every passing lane from Vienna all the way back to Rome, while Spain contained Italy to the only attacking course of action available, which was looping the ball forward to a hopeless Luca Toni, showing nothing of the goal-glutton that we had watched tear German nets to bits only months before.
But it’s the talent that sat between the sticks for both sides that ended up being the difference in the result.
The match-up pitted two keepers against each other who have spent the past year being part and parcel of every “which keeper is the best in the world” argument you and your mates have had sitting around the pub, living room, or wherever you discuss football.
Those who watch La Liga swear that Iker Casillas is inhuman and capable of stopping a bullet with a pair of castanets, while Gianluigi Buffon has been rumored to be able to make a ball change direction with only the power of his mind (the latter of which I’m not so sure is false as David Silva had three shots in the match that missed the frame by inches, the last of which was so close it’s hard to believe Buffon doesn’t have some hoo-doo working for him).
The two keepers have played before of course, most recently with Juventus showing Real Madrid the door on two separate occasions in the Champions League not that far back. But this was in the Euros, and if only they would go to penalty kicks...
But before we get to that, the game-saving stop Iker made to deny Mauro Camoranesi is a perfect example of who Casillas is as a goalkeeper: he is the product of chaos theory, where out of the strangest and weird decisions that he is apt to make, he then turns around and makes a save that leaves your jaw hanging somewhere down around your clavicle.
Yes, he is unreliable on crosses, comes out of the box a little quick, and sometimes makes the odd save look a bit more difficult than it is. But when you need a ball to not go in the net, there is nobody on the planet that you can honestly say will stop it from happening more often than Iker Casillas.
In this passed La Liga season, Iker won the Zamora trophy, basically the “most valuable goalie” award in Spain.
The fact that he won it with Madrid, the run-away champs of the year two years going is not too surprising, but it’s the way that he did it that needs to be recognized.
2 comments Last one added about 1 year ago — Leave a Comment
Keith Griffin about 1 year ago
Great article. I have to say, i dont get to watch La Liga week in week out but I when I do, Casillas always stands out. Real's defence isnt exactly water tight, and for them to concede the least amount of goals, I think is more of a credit to Casillas than to Pepe, Ramos etc.
But what a keeper, and he is very short fro a goalie isnt he?
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Ben Raynak about 1 year ago
Iker's Height: 1.85 M (6 FT 1 in)
I suppose he isn't going to win any world's tallest man competitions, but I never took him for being very short.
And I agree about Madrid's back line. For some reason, despite having one of the best defenses on paper in Europe, and definitely on form the best on in Spain, they let a lot of shots through, especially in the beginning of the season. Now, with Ezequiel Garay on the horizon, and if they can learn to keep their shape and play together, the back line could be all but impenetrable:
Sergio Ramos, Pepe, Metzelder, Cannavaro, Heinze, Marcelo, Miguel Torres and Garay (Whenever he makes his switch)
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