Casillas recalls day Spain's luck changed
Reuters - Tuesday 09 August 2011, 14:48
BARI - Spain's shootout victory over
Italy in the Euro 2008 quarter-finals was the change in fortune
they needed to go on and win that tournament and the 2010 World
Cup, captain Iker Casillas said on Tuesday.
Spain are in Bari for a friendly against the 2006 World Cup
winners on Wednesday, a game in which the Real Madrid goalkeeper
played a starring role the last time the sides met three years
ago.
With the score 0-0 after extra-time, Casillas saved two
penalties to help his side through to the last four at Euro
2008, laying to rest the memory of three previous quarter-final
shootout exits.
"We took the pressure off ourselves, that game was a great
relief," Casillas told reporters in Bari.
"From there, against Russia in the semi-finals, Spain's
football changed radically and their luck as well, something
which had never been with us before. It all changed from that
moment."
Wednesday's match comes four days before the traditional
curtain-raiser to the new season, the Spanish Super Cup where
European and La Liga champions Barcelona take on King's Cup
holders Real Madrid.
The first leg is at the Bernabeu on Sunday with the return
at the Nou Camp next Wednesday.
Although Real defender Sergio Ramos and Barca midfielder
Xavi have pulled out of the Spain squad through injury, 11 of
the 21 remaining players are from the top two clubs.
"At present our minds are focused on Italy," said Casillas.
"When Spain fell to Portugal [4-0] and Argentina [4-1] in
friendlies last year we were criticised for not knowing how to
defend our world title.
"We need to demonstrate Spain are world champions for a
reason and work at 200 percent because our rivals will give
their all."