Casillas or De Gea? Spanish 'keeper doubts linger ahead of Euro opener
Toulouse - On the eve of Spain's European Championship opener, the name of the team's starting goalkeeper is still in doubt.
Spain coach Vicente Del Bosque has yet to announce whether it will be veteran Iker Casillas or troubled David de Gea in goal when the two-time defending champion take on the Czech Republic on Monday.
There used to be no question about Spain's goalkeeping position as Casillas was an indisputable starter for years, the captain of a golden generation that won two European titles and the World Cup.
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But after more than a decade in goal, the veteran goalkeeper sees himself fighting for a spot with De Gea, the Manchester United player who seemed poised to get his chance in the starting lineup before surprising allegations surfaced about his involvement in an investigation into a Spanish pornography filmmaker. He has denied any wrongdoing, but the damage was already done only three days before the team's first game.
The allegations could not have come at a worse time for Del Bosque, whose decision now will be even more scrutinized. If he picks Casillas, many will say it was because of the off-the-field problem affecting De Gea.
De Gea started in Spain's final warm-up game, a disappointing 1-0 loss to 137th-ranked Georgia at home last week, but Del Bosque said it didn't mean he would be in goal against the Czechs in Toulouse.
The goalkeeper had to address the media and his teammates on Friday after a protected witness in the case against the pornography filmmaker mentioned his name to authorities. He was not being accused by authorities but they confirmed that his name appeared in court papers.
''There is no reason not to believe in him,'' Del Bosque said. ''He will have the same chance to start as he would before all of this happened. We are supporting him.''
De Gea practiced normally with the rest of the squad after explaining himself and seemed in position to start if Del Bosque decided to pick him.
''I'm coming off good seasons with Manchester United,'' the 25-year-old goalkeeper said. ''We'll see what happens. I'll accept what the coach decides.''
Spain's third goalkeeper at Euro 2016 is Sevilla's Sergio Rico.
The 35-year-old Casillas, Europe's most capped player with 167 international appearances, lifted all three major trophies won by Spain in the last decade, but he was among those who played poorly when ''La Roja'' was eliminated early at the World Cup in Brazil two years ago. His move from Real Madrid to FC Porto last year also didn't help his cause in the national team, although he remains a fan favorite.
Del Bosque's reluctance to commit to Casillas as a starter is another sign of the dismantling of Spain's winning generation.