Thursday, 16 June 2016

Euro 2016: David de Gea matches long standing International record

By keeping a clean sheet in Spain's opening game against Czech Republic in the ongoing European Championship, the United goalkeeper has equalled England's great: Gordon Banks record of keeping four clean sheets in his first four competitive games for a national side.

David de Gea started the competition with sex assault allegations that raised a lot of questions about his participation in the competition.

Spanish coach Del Bosque showed confidence in the 25 year old picking him over Iker Casillas for the first game of the tournament.

He was rarely threatened in goal and only had to make three saves, in which one was spectacular. Spain won the game with a late Gerard Piqué goal.

De Gea made his senior debut in a 2-0 friendly win over El Salvador in June 2014 as he replaced Casillas with seven minutes to the end of regulation time.

Though selected in the 2014 World cup squad, he was third choice goalkeeper behind Casillas and Reina, and was the only member of the team that didn't feature in the tournament.

He made his first competitive start, which was his third cap for Spain in their 4–0 win away to Luxembourg in their Euro 2016 qualifying on 12 October, 2014.

Since then De Gea has not conceded a goal in a competitive game with a point at stake.

This include games against Luxembourg, Macedonia, Ukraine and and the most recent one against Czech Republic.

The last time this happened in international football according to Marca was in 1966.

Gordon Banks, had been keeping for England prior to the competition, but in noncompetitive games.

At the start of the World Cup, hosted by England, Banks made his first competitive debut for England at Wembley as they were held to a goalless draw by Uruguay.

Banks followed this up by keeping clean sheets in England's victories in group games against Mexico 2-0 and France 2-0 which saw The Three Lions past the group stage.

He kept another clean sheet in the last eight as England knocked out  Argentina with a 1-0 victory. Making it four clean sheets in a roll.

He however conceded against Portugal in the semifinals. Though England won 2-1.

De Gea can surpass the record if he is goal and keeps a clean sheet in Spain's next game against Turkey.

/* Ad BELOW POST */
Share this article with your friends.

No comments:

Post a Comment

Featured