LuNo Posted March 26, 2008 Posted March 26, 2008 Casillas On Torres, Spain And Euro 2008In a wide-ranging interview with Spanish sports daily As, Real Madrid and Spain goalkeeper Iker Casillas touched on the national team, the manager, and some of his squadmates...The 26-year-old looked ahead to Euro 2008 and beyond at the prompting of his interviewer."Did we think we'd qualify in first place after losing in Belfast? Rather than having doubts, we carried an eagerness to say 'we are going to play well to catch up as soon as possible and finish first.'"We did wrongly to start with, but when you start well after coming out of a World Cup, it creates doubt. I also think that the press was, in general, too harsh. To my mind, it was excessive."It was excessive to Luis [Aragones, coach] in particular, but I am speaking in general. It would have been fairer to analyse things after qualification as a whole, but I understand that the world of the press is a daily thing..."Responding to his interviewer's query about whether or not Luis' failure to settle his future contributed, he said, "What happens with that doesn't concern us players."With us, inside, Luis has been phenomenal, and I speak for myself and the majority here. Clearly nobody can please everybody, but Luis has created a good style with this team. People respect him as a coach and for that Spanish style."To The FutureInevitably, the conversation turned towards Raul.Casillas sighed, "When Spain get together, there is so much morbo about Raúl."I wish that he was involved in the Selección because he is a great player. I have the good fortune to train with him every day and I know how he's been this season."But players can't do anything about this. We must accept it. The players are irritated by people calling for Raul? I say the same as before to that: the selector decides and we respect his decision, and also what the fans think."With Vicente Del Bosque taking over after Euro 2008, Casillas was less than open with his thoughts."I don't know about that," he said. "Between now and the end of the season Luis has a contract, and we have the Euros."More prompting from the interviewer."Well, what do you want me to say, Damian? After the Euros we'll talk and we'll see what happens. Whoever comes in will work for the good of the team and nothing more."I know Vicente well, I worked under him from 1999 to 2003 and he helped me a lot, both me and Madrid."Squad MattersWith Fernando Torres having now established himself as a Premiership star, Casillas was more than pleased to remark on his international teammate."I believe that it was time for el Niño to go elsewhere, but it's a pity because he has Atlético in his heart and feels their colours in earnest," he said of the Liverpool man."But in the Premier League he has been sensational. He's matured, grown and is now a big name. Just like Cesc [at Arsenal.] Both are exceptional players and we're very lucky to have them."Other goalkeepers in the squad? Those places must be decided by fair trial. Spain can rest assured: Reina is doing well at Liverpool, Valdes is key at Barcelona, I greatly admire Palop, and there are guys like Diego Lopez, Moya and even Segunda players like Cuellar or Risego. Spain has no goalkeeping problems. The team will remain in good hands." Quote
LuNo Posted March 26, 2008 Posted March 26, 2008 Casillas: It's Hard For The Madrid CanteraReal Madrid goalkeeper Iker Casillas was pleased that two fellow Bernabeu cantera products were joining him in the Spain squad, adding that perhaps if things had been a bit different, the two could have made the grade in the capital...Alvaro Arbeloa now plays with Liverpool, while new national team arrival Ruben de la Red is at Getafe, albeit with a buy-back clause in his contract.Unlike the other two, Casillas was able to rise from the Madrid youth system and carve out a first-team place, although he feels that perhaps the other two should have done so as well.He told Marca that "without a doubt" the two could have gone onto better things at the Bernabeu "because they are valuable players for their teams and probably would be at Madrid, too."But this always happens with players from the cantera, because they can do better away from here rather than in-house."I'm not making a dig at the club, but it's always very difficult for such players."In praise of the other two, he added, "It's not easy to leave a club to which you have belonged and show that you are suitable both for your new club and the selección, but it proves that there is life after Madrid."Joining up with Spain for the first time is something to be proud of, and they're doing well so they deserve to be here." Quote
LuNo Posted March 27, 2008 Posted March 27, 2008 Player Ratings: Spain 1-0 ItalyCarlo Garganese rates the players on show in tonight’s international friendly from the Luis Valero di Elche Stadium.Casillas – 7.5: A few shaky moments on crosses, but performed a fantastic one-on-one save from Camoranesi just seconds before Spain scored. Ultimately this stop swung the game.Sergio Ramos - 6.5: Was caused a number of problems by Di Natale before the break, but improved markedly in the second half, and was always ready to support the attack.Puyol – N.A: Lasted just 16 minutes before he was forced off with injury. His replacement Albiol proved a more than able replacement for the Barcelona symbol.Marchena – 7.5: Spain’s most impressive defender, his reading of the game was exemplary, making a number of interceptions in-and-around the box.Capdevila – 7: A very steady performance from Capdevila at left back. Defensively and offensively performed all of his duties.Senna – 6: A powerful display, Senna added some much-needed balance in midfield. Had a number of long-shots but these were all off-target.Fabregas – 6.5: Struggled to make his mark early in the game as Xavi hogged the possession, but then really grew into the game, and brought out two fine saves from Buffon.Xavi – 7.5: Blew hot and cold but when he was hot he was hot. An absolute magician when he gets the ball, he sees passes that others do not know exist.Iniesta – 6: Made little impact on proceedings, even if he livened up in the very late stages.Silva – 5.5: Struggled badly to get into the game, and was stopped almost every time he went forward by the veteran right back Panucci.Torres - 7: A real live-wire until he was substituted at the break. Would have scored had it not been for a brilliant Buffon save.Substitutes: Albiol - 6.5, Villa – 8.5, Xabi Alosno - 6, Riera – 5.5, Luis Garcia – 6, Arbeloa - 6 Quote
LuNo Posted March 29, 2008 Posted March 29, 2008 Real Madrid vs. SevillaGoalkeepers: Casillas & Dudek.Defenders: Torres, Sergio Ramos, Cannavaro, Marcelo & Heinze.Midfielders: Diarra, Gago, Robinho, Robben, Guti, Baptista, Sneijder & Drenthe.Forwards: Higuain, Raul & Saviola. Quote
LuNo Posted March 31, 2008 Posted March 31, 2008 3 - Real Madrid: Casillas; Ramos, Cannavaro, Heinze, Marcelo; Gago, Guti (Diarra, 72'), Sneijder, Robben; Higuaín (Baptista, 83') & Raúl (Robinho, 85').1 - Sevilla: Palop; Alves, Mosquera, Prieto, Adriano; Crespo (Navas, 27'), Poulsen (Renato, 45'), Keita, Capel (Koné, 72'); Kanouté & Luis Fabiano.REFEREE: Fernando Teixeira Vitienes. Booked Crespo (6'), Heinze (22'), Mosquera (50') and Raúl (56').GOALS:1-0: (7'): Heinze.1-1 (37'): Kanouté.2-1 (39'): Raúl.3-1 (65'): Higuaín.HIGHLIGHTS: Matchday 30 of La Liga. Venue: Santiago Bernabéu Stadium. Attendance: 80,000. One minute's silence was held in memory of the recently deceased former Real Madrid basketball player Sergio Luyk. Quote
LuNo Posted March 31, 2008 Posted March 31, 2008 Player Ratings: Real Madrid 3-1 SevillaReal Madrid produced both a fluid attacking performance and defensive solidarity to produce a priceless result against Sevilla to extend their lead, and put their opponents out of contention for Champions League qualification. Goal.com analyses the individual performances...Casillas - 6.5: Was rarely called upon but looked sharp and assured as usual.Sergio Ramos - 8: Showed just what an asset he is up and down the right hand side. Did brilliantly to subdue Capel and got forward to good effect throughout the entire game.Cannavaro - 7: Is a shaved head all Cannavaro needs to produce his A-game? He won the World Cup with one, but for much of his hapless Madrid career has let a little grow through. Today he was back to his bald best and besides one unpunished error, put in an accomplished and solid performance.Heinze - 7.5: Quite like his defensive partner, surprised everyone this evening. Made a few errors but always atoned for them almost immediately. Made some crucial blocks and of course threw himself at the ball to score the crucial opener.Marcelo - 6.5: Was not outstanding individually. He was well protected and supported by his team-mates and in that comfort zone he was able to put in a competent showing. Still room for improvement.Sneijder - 8.5: Yet another on the long list of shocking performances today - shocking because they were much better than expected. Sneijder has looked lost for so much of the season, but his fantastic free-kick set up the first goal and his wonderful pass was the prelude to the second; he also played a crucial part in the third and final goal as well. Was all over the place, spraying accurate passes and doing well to cover and assist Marcelo in defence in the second half.Gago - 7: Put in a performance that will inspire confidence within him and many Real fans who were losing faith in the young Argentine. Proved relatively solid up against the physical threat of Poulsen and Keita in the first half and his passing game is always a delight to watch. A slightly more sturdy Guti in the making.Guti - 7.5: And Guti himself did a good job on the night. Setting up the third quite brilliantly and did well to keep things ticking over in midfield.Higuain - 7: Eventually managed to take a chance he'd have struggled to miss. Cannot be faulted for his work-rate, and some of his runs were promising, but was too wasteful in front of goal to warrant a higher score.Raul - 8: Another trademark performance from the captain, who put himself about from the first minute until the last and made things difficult for the entire Sevilla backline. Scored the goal of the game; a fantastic effort which put Madrid back in front less than two minutes after Sevilla had equalised. Indispensable.Robben - 7: Constantly a thorn in Sevilla's side early on and his running was always a danger. In the second half, he by and large flattered to deceive and did not produce enough end product.Substitutes: Diarra - 5.5, Julio Baptista - n/a, Robinho - n/a. Quote
Chic_Raul_ista Posted March 31, 2008 Posted March 31, 2008 During press presentation vid http://www.20minutos.es/noticia/364547/0/c...escobar/madrid/ Quote
Chic_Raul_ista Posted April 3, 2008 Posted April 3, 2008 Feria de Abril is about to begin in Sevilla; partying, bullfights, flamenco & more! Flamenco Con Arte presentation Quote
HEARTLESS18 Posted April 4, 2008 Posted April 4, 2008 I'd love to watch some Flamenco, about it. Quote
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