Sport360° view: It’s time Casillas did what’s right for him and Spain

Andy West 18:19 11/10/2014
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  • Time to hang up the gloves: "Casillas is fast becoming a liability," writes Andy West.

    Iker Casillas has been a fantastic servant for Real Madrid and Spain, with his impressive haul of 19 major trophies marking him down as one of the most successful goalkeepers in the history of the game.

    However, it is now time for him to step aside. Casillas is fast becoming a liability, with his horrible attempt to stop Juraj Kucka’s free-kick in Spain’s defeat against Slovakia on Thursday the latest in a long line of errors.

    He finished last season fortunate to lift the Champions League after being caught out of position when Diego Godin gave Atletico the lead during the final in Lisbon.

    A terrible summer followed, bookmarked by a series of mistakes in the humbling 5-1 World Cup loss to the Netherlands and a hapless performance in a pre-season defeat against Manchester United.

    Although Casillas was all over the place when Madrid lost 4-2 at Real Sociedad, he has largely performed well since then, pulling off some fine saves to temporarily quash the long debate over the goalkeeping position at the Bernabeu.

    Now though, that debate has reopened with full force and his place is again being questioned. His growing propensity to commit bad mistakes is a serious issue.

    Although keepers are largely noticed for occasional spectacular saves, the true mark of their effectiveness is their ability to avoid errors.

    First and foremost, they must be dependable and consistent – athletic full-length saves are a welcome bonus, of course, but they are the icing on top of the cake rather than the cake itself.

    In the past, Casillas was as reliable as anyone. Although he has never been particularly strong at dealing with crosses, he avoided unnecessary mistakes in a manner that seems increasingly impossible for him now.

    This is a natural effect of ageing – he is now 33 and has been playing regularly for the last 15 years. His physical capabilities have started to decline, making him more vulnerable to occasional physical or mental lapses.

    At the same time, David De Gea is heading in the opposite direction, cutting out the inconsistencies of youth and becoming an excellent and reliable performer for Manchester United.

    The next step in De Gea’s progression is being installed as the starting goalkeeper at international level, and it should happen now.

    Casillas is a declining force and it’s difficult to envisage him still playing at a high level when the European Championships start in June 2016. He should accept that with good grace, and step aside with dignity intact before he has to be pushed.

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