AMEDA unveils modernisation steps for African, ME depositories    US Military Official Discusses Gaza Aid Challenges: Why Airdrops Aren't Enough    US Embassy in Cairo announces Egyptian-American musical fusion tour    ExxonMobil's Nigerian asset sale nears approval    Chubb prepares $350M payout for state of Maryland over bridge collapse    Argentina's GDP to contract by 3.3% in '24, grow 2.7% in '25: OECD    Turkey's GDP growth to decelerate in next 2 years – OECD    $17.7bn drop in banking sector's net foreign assets deficit during March 2024: CBE    EU pledges €7.4bn to back Egypt's green economy initiatives    Egypt, France emphasize ceasefire in Gaza, two-state solution    Norway's Scatec explores 5 new renewable energy projects in Egypt    Microsoft plans to build data centre in Thailand    Japanese Ambassador presents Certificate of Appreciation to renowned Opera singer Reda El-Wakil    Health Minister, Johnson & Johnson explore collaborative opportunities at Qatar Goals 2024    WFP, EU collaborate to empower refugees, host communities in Egypt    Al-Sisi, Emir of Kuwait discuss bilateral ties, Gaza takes centre stage    Sweilam highlights Egypt's water needs, cooperation efforts during Baghdad Conference    AstraZeneca, Ministry of Health launch early detection and treatment campaign against liver cancer    AstraZeneca injects $50m in Egypt over four years    Egypt, AstraZeneca sign liver cancer MoU    Swiss freeze on Russian assets dwindles to $6.36b in '23    Amir Karara reflects on 'Beit Al-Rifai' success, aspires for future collaborations    Climate change risks 70% of global workforce – ILO    Prime Minister Madbouly reviews cooperation with South Sudan    Egypt retains top spot in CFA's MENA Research Challenge    Egyptian public, private sectors off on Apr 25 marking Sinai Liberation    Debt swaps could unlock $100b for climate action    President Al-Sisi embarks on new term with pledge for prosperity, democratic evolution    Amal Al Ghad Magazine congratulates President Sisi on new office term    Egyptian, Japanese Judo communities celebrate new coach at Tokyo's Embassy in Cairo    Uppingham Cairo and Rafa Nadal Academy Unite to Elevate Sports Education in Egypt with the Introduction of the "Rafa Nadal Tennis Program"    Financial literacy becomes extremely important – EGX official    Euro area annual inflation up to 2.9% – Eurostat    BYD، Brazil's Sigma Lithium JV likely    UNESCO celebrates World Arabic Language Day    Motaz Azaiza mural in Manchester tribute to Palestinian journalists    Russia says it's in sync with US, China, Pakistan on Taliban    It's a bit frustrating to draw at home: Real Madrid keeper after Villarreal game    Shoukry reviews with Guterres Egypt's efforts to achieve SDGs, promote human rights    Sudan says countries must cooperate on vaccines    Johnson & Johnson: Second shot boosts antibodies and protection against COVID-19    Egypt to tax bloggers, YouTubers    Egypt's FM asserts importance of stability in Libya, holding elections as scheduled    We mustn't lose touch: Muller after Bayern win in Bundesliga    Egypt records 36 new deaths from Covid-19, highest since mid June    Egypt sells $3 bln US-dollar dominated eurobonds    Gamal Hanafy's ceramic exhibition at Gezira Arts Centre is a must go    Italian Institute Director Davide Scalmani presents activities of the Cairo Institute for ITALIANA.IT platform    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



Casillas situation at Real a worry for Del Bosque
Iker Casillas warmed the bench in the beginning of Real Madrid's La Liga title bid
Published in Ahram Online on 20 - 08 - 2013

Spain coach Vicente del Bosque will be watching for Carlo Ancelotti's next Real Madrid starting XI with greater interest than usual after the Italian opened the La Liga campaign with Iker Casillas on the bench.
The 32-year-old goalkeeper, long-standing captain for both club and country, saw Diego Lopez surprisingly chosen ahead of him at home to Real Betis on Sunday, Ancelotti's competitive debut at the helm.
Casillas was dropped and then suffered a bone fracture in his hand which kept him sidelined for a number of weeks under Jose Mourinho last season. When he returned from injury, January transfer window signing Lopez remained first choice.
The fragmentation of support for Mourinho among the players, the fans and the media in his final months at the Bernabeu were in a large part put down to the decision to keep Casillas on the bench. Some felt it was personal rather than professional.
The arrival of the genial Ancelotti has seen an easing of those tensions in and around the club, and many expected Casillas to be restored to the number one jersey for the new campaign.
"I took this decision for today," Ancelotti said after Real squeaked a 2-1 win over Betis.
"It's a decision taken on small details. I made it for this game. We'll see what happens in the next one.
"I spoke to Casillas, he is very professional and he is keen to play."
TOUGH CHOICE
Casillas has been undisputed first-choice keeper for club and country for more than a decade.
He was won two European Cups and five La Liga titles with Real, and captained the national team to their trio of consecutive titles at Euro 2008 and 2012, and at the World Cup finals in 2010.
Del Bosque has always stood by him, and took him to the Confederations Cup and Ecuador for last week's 2-0 friendly win, which may be one explanation for Ancelotti's decision.
Casillas played the first half in Guayaquil and Barcelona's Victor Valdes, hardly a poor alternative, the second, but a tougher choice may need to be made for Spain's upcoming World Cup qualifiers if the Madrid man is going to remain benched.
Spain top Group I by a point from France with three games left to play, and they travel to play third-placed Finland on Sept. 6, their last away fixture. The Finns held Spain to a 1-1 draw back in March.
Valdes said he was surprised by Ancelotti's decision at a news conference on Monday.
"I have seen Iker make saves no one thought possible," he said. "For me, he is the best but I shouldn't say any more because it isn't my team."
Lopez has performed well when called upon at Real, and is arguably better in the air and with his feet than Casillas, but the man he is replacing is a national institution.
Online polls run by Madrid-based sports dailies Marca and AS both showed a narrow majority of readers wanted to see Casillas restored to the number one slot.
Real's starting XI for next Monday's trip to play Granada in La Liga, a venue in which they suffered a 1-0 defeat last season, will be headline news in Spain and could have Del Bosque rethinking his plans for next year's World Cup finals in Brazil.
(For more sports news and updates, follow Ahram Online Sports on Twitter at@AO Sportsand on Facebook atAhramOnlineSports)
http://english.ahram.org.eg/News/79507.aspx


Clic here to read the story from its source.