Euro 2012: Iker Casillas revels in historic triumph
Agencies Mon Jul 02 2012, 11:06 hrs
Spain's goalkeeper Iker Casillas celebrates with his team mates after defeating Italy to win the Euro 2012 final soccer match at the Olympic stadium in Kiev. (Reuters)
After lifting the Euro 2012 trophy to make history as the skipper of the first team to win three consecutive major finals, Spain goalkeeper Iker Casillas said the last four years had been a 'wonderful' journey.
The 31-year-old Real Madrid shot stopper was on hand to keep out the relatively little that Italy managed to throw at him as La Furia Roja ran out 4-0 victors for the biggest winning margin in the tournament's history, allowing Spain to become the first nation to retain the trophy.
With yesterday's win sandwiching the 2010 World Cup, Casillas was ecstatic afterwards.
"This is such a truly wonderful moment. The second goal from Jordi (Alba) clinched it really," he told Telecinco television.
"It's been four marvellous years. You might think that a 4-0 margin against Italy means it was easy - but we have been gradually stepping up as the tournament went along."
There had been criticism of Spain and their coach Vicente del Bosque for playing much of the tournament without a true striker and again it fell to Cesc Fabregas to adopt the 'false nine' role in the final, until Fernando Torres came on to net the third and then set up the fourth for fellow substitute Juan Mata.
David Silva had set the ball rolling with a header from a Fabregas cross.
The absence of a striker had appeared to rob Spain not so much of their style but of their finishing substance earier in the tournament with their opening draw against the Italians and their 1-0 creep past Croatia, as well as their semi-final shootout success over Portugal.
... contd.
Be the first to comment.
Schedule
View All-
June 28, 00:15 hrs
ESP v/s 
POR -
June 29, 00:15 hrs
GER v/s 
ITA
Spain goalkeeper Iker Casillas lifts the trophy after the Euro 2012 soccer championship final between Spain and Italy in Kiev, Ukraine. (AP) 
Sand artist Sudarshan Pattnaik creates a sand image to extend his wishes to Euro Cup 2012 champion Spain at Puri beach on Monday. (PTI)
Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon and teammates Leonardo Bonucci react after losing the Euro 2012 soccer championship final between Spain and Italy in Kiev, Ukraine. (AP)
Fans of Spain celebrate Spain's victory over Italy in their Euro 2012 final soccer match held in Kiev, at a fan park in Malaga, southern Spain. (Reuters)
Spain's goalkeeper Iker Casillas celebrates with his team mates after defeating Italy to win the Euro 2012 final soccer match at the Olympic stadium in Kiev. (Reuters)
