Ireland’s Sean St. Ledger (5) shoots the ball past Spain goalkeeper Iker Casillas (1). (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)
RECIFE, Brazil — Spain’s goalkeeper for Sunday’s Confederations Cup opener against Uruguay remains a mystery.
Coach Vicente del Bosque declined to name names, saying only “wait until just before the game” to find out if it’s Iker Casillas of Real Madrid or Victor Valdes of Barcelona.
Del Bosque gave nothing away talking to reporters at Saturday’s pre-match news conference.
Casillas is the team captain, but he broke his left hand in a Real Madrid game on Jan. 23 and has not played a competitive match since. He acknowledged he would be nervous if he gets the call.
“To wait for a lineup is always difficult, but to wait now it will be more difficult because of the last 4 1/2 months,” Casillas said.
“Of course, I have got used to not being part of the regular team,” he added. “But the fact I was called for this tournament, it makes me aware how it feels to be back. I’ve tried to train and show my teammates and coach I am in good shape.”
In normal conditions, Casillas probably would be the choice. But these are not normal times for the 32-year-old, who has led Spain to two European championships and the 2010 World Cup title.
A fixture on Spain’s national team for a decade, he was dropped in December by Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho. He broke his hand in January and, despite recovering, did not play the rest of the season after falling out with the coach.
Asked if he knew who was starting on Sunday, Casillas replied: “I don’t know.”
Del Bosque was no help, but said the starter on Sunday was likely to start all three matches in Group B, which also includes Nigeria and Tahiti in the warm-up tournament for next year’s World Cup.
“You will know the lineup tomorrow,” he said. “We will wait until the last moment, but I have decided more or less.”