Lopez: Casillas omission no surprise

Diego Lopez claims “I wasn’t surprised that Iker Casillas didn’t get called up” for Spain as the veteran is only “one more player” under Julen Lopetegui

Casillas has been overlooked in each of Lopetegui’s Spain squads, with David de Gea his preferred No 1, but Lopez feels the Coach is right to not pick his former Real Madrid teammate for his reputation alone, praising the 50-year-old for the meritocracy he has brought to La Roja.

“The door hasn’t closed on me in the national team,” the Espanyol man told Cadena SER.

“On the contrary, it’s open to everyone. Lopetegui is showing that everyone can play for the national team, regardless of their identity. That’s important in Spanish football.

“You have to earn it with your club, but it doesn’t matter which team you play for, what your name is and how old you are.

“I wasn’t surprised that Casillas didn’t get called up. He’s one more player and there’s a lot of competition, although he could be called up in another squad.

“We all have to work under the same conditions and from there, those who deserve to be called up are called up and those who aren’t must continue to work.”

Tags Diego Lopez Iker Casillas Julen Lopetegui Spain
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