Monday, 7 April 2014

*Valdes

Spain coach Vicente del Bosque said Monday that he has a good idea who will replace the injured keeper Victor Valdes for the World Cup finals.
Valdes will be out for around 7 months after breaking his cruciate knee ligament in Barcelona's 3-0 over Celta Vigo a fortnight ago. It is a huge blow for Spain given that Valdes had looked likely to compete with Real Madrid's Iker Casillas to be first choice for Spain in Brazil.
The absence of the Barca keeper has now opened the door for another keeper to come into the squad and there are three main candidates: Diego Lopez, who was part of the Spain squad for the 2009 Confederations Cup and who is first choice ahead of Casillas for Real Madrid in the BBVA Primera Liga, Espanyol's Kiko Casilla, who has been in fine form this season, and Manchester United's David D Gea, who has been a regular for Spain's U-21 squad and who was called into the squad for friendly games against Serbia and China in May 2012.
"We are very sorry for Victor," commented Del Bosque. "He was adapted to the squad and has done very well, both on the pitch and off the pitch."
The Spain coach then admitted he had decided who would be the third goalkeeper in the squad for the World Cup finals.
"I have the third goalkeeper in mind, but I am not going to say who it is yet, because there could still be further injuries and then we would have to call up someone else. I think it is logical to stick to the timescale we have ahead of us. There are still seven weeks to go and anything could happen," he said, adding that De Gea was "one of those who could come."
One thing that now appears certain is that Casillas will be first choice in Brazil.
"Iker is always elegant; he is a nice lad and a good companion. That is why he is a leader on the pitch and has over 150 appearances for his country," said Del Bosque.

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