Euro 2024 began on June 14, 2024. For its first match in this European competition, Spain beat Croatia with a score of 3 goals to 0.
In an interview with AS from Frankfurt, legendary Real Madrid goalkeeper Iker Casillas spoke about Spain’s chances.
Below, Casillas’ full remarks on the subject:
How do you see this European Championship?
It is still too early to say who the favorites are. With just one match, we can’t see much yet. I think it will be what everyone already knows, except for the surprise of Belgium. I find it hard to believe that Belgium will not qualify, although it is true that they could be very nervous going into the next matches.
Did Spain make an impression with its match against Croatia?
No no. In the World Cup, they started by winning, I don’t know how much, against Costa Rica and look what happened, they eliminated us. What Spain must do is win, they must be happy and believe that they are improving little by little and let others say what they want, because in the end it is a story I’ve known for a long time…
Your generation also started by losing the first match of the 2010 World Cup before winning it…
What I mean is, it doesn’t help much. When we lost that match we received a lot of criticism, it was brutal and we had just been European champions and favourites. I think it’s a good thing that Spain won 3-0 and that gives you confidence, but that doesn’t mean you’re going to win the Euros.
One of the names in this European Championship, for one reason or another, is Mbappé. What do you think about him talking about politics in the middle of competition?
I think that’s completely respectable. We give our opinion when we want. As long as it doesn’t offend anyone. We’re free to say whatever we want here, right? So it’s the same thing. He gives his opinion and if he views the situation that way, then great. The others respect him. And if they don’t share his opinion, it doesn’t matter. But they will have to respect everyone’s opinion.
Do you understand the criticism he receives for expressing himself in this way?
Freedom of expression exists. I don’t think it should harm your image or not. You may like him or not if you don’t think like him. He has the right to say whatever he wants, of course. Another name of this Euro, Bellingham. He scored in England’s first game and had a sublime season in Madrid….
It’s hard to get there in the first year, isn’t it, and besides, the bar he set was very high. And yet, I saw that there was criticism over the last couple of months because maybe he wasn’t at the level he was at the start of the season.
But of course it’s his fault, he set the bar very high for all of us. People need to understand that the bar will not always be this high. He is a player who plays football very well, who is charismatic and who has adapted very well to the club and the city of Madrid.
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