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Casillas ready to step into unknown
by John Atkin from Vienna
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Iker Casillas celebrates during the semi-final
(¿Getty Images)
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Spain captain Iker Casillas said he feels responsible for
"44 million people" as he and his team-mates prepare to enter
the uncharted territory of a UEFA European Championship final.
'Nervous'
The Real Madrid CF goalkeeper has claimed a veritable bounty of silverware
since being crowned as a European champion with Spain Under-15s in 1995,
including two UEFA Champions League titles, yet he insists he will break
new ground when he leads La Furia Roja out to take on Germany in the UEFA
EURO 2008T final. "It's very different," he said. "Reaching
a Champions League final with Real Madrid has no bearing on reaching this
final. Many of us are used to playing against other important club teams
in Europe but this tournament is every four years. It's very difficult
to reach a final and that gives you an added responsibility; it makes
you more nervous. Speaking for myself, I'm looking forward to it very
much. But I feel responsible for my team-mates and 44 million people."
'Horrible statistic'
That is a sizeable burden to place on the shoulders of a man who, less
we forget, is still only 27. He will become the first goalkeeper to captain
a side to UEFA European Championship final victory if Spain prevail at
the Ernst-Happel-Stadion, and admits the thought has crossed his mind.
"Everybody has five minutes of dreaming before they go to sleep which
is free of charge, but the most important thing is that when the moment
arrives we're aware that only one team can win and only one man can lift
the cup," he said. "Hopefully Spain can be that team. We have
the chance to break this horrible statistic for Spain. We haven't won
an international title for a long time. We were very near 24 years ago
but didn't manage to win."
'Break the mould'
In 1984 a mistake from Spain keeper Luis Arconada proved the decisive
moment as Michel Platini's free-kick squirmed beneath him to put France
ahead, Bruno Bellone's last-minute strike ending Spanish hopes of a first
title since 1964. Arconada will be at the Ernst-Happel-Stadion, yet Casillas
is determined that there will be no repeat. "There are good and bad
things about reaching a final; if you lose the journey is not worth it,
but if you win it certainly is," he said. "Spanish players have
come a long way and we can now break the mould as we're one step away
from winning. We have everything it takes to put in a great performance."
Having helped end a run of three penalty shoot-out losses - all on 22
June -in the quarter-finals and in doing so claim a first competitive
victory in 88 years against Italy, Casillas more than any other seems
capable of casting aside the shackles of history.
Euro2008.com,
29 June 2008
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