Valdes overtakes Iker

Posted Wednesday, June 12, 2013 by Marca.com

Víctor Valdés seems likely to be in pole position to start Spain's first match of the Confederations Cup. In the friendly against Ireland, the Spanish manager, Vicente del Bosque, chose him over Iker Casillas to start the game.

Just being selected for a single game wouldn't normally say too much about the chances of Valdés starting for an official match, but he has also been training exceptionally well for Spain and he is coming into the competition in excellent form.

Over and above that, he put in an outstanding performance in Paris, when Casillas was injured, and it now seems that the Barça keeper is making himself comfy in a slot that was previously reserved for Iker.

Casillas is back, but he is obviously feeling the lack of training, competition and time between the sticks. He played against Haiti, but the game meant little more to him than spending 45 minutes boiling in the beating sun. Amongst those people close to Iker, everyone can see he's suffering, and not physically, from the recent events that have unfolded in Madrid.

He's back with the national side, and fitting in fine, but he himself says that he's starting with a disadvantage compared to Valdés and Reina, who have been playing regularly throughout the season.

The three keepers, like the rest of the Spanish team, already have their focus set on Recife, the place where they hope to take their first step towards the dream of winning Spain's first ever Confederations Cup, and in the process becoming the first European side ever to win an international competition on South American soil.