MADRID (AP) -Iker Casillas said disappointments will likely outnumber highlights when he looks back over his international career while preparing to play in his 100th game with Spain on Saturday.
The Real Madrid goalkeeper, who is set to start against Argentina in an international friendly at the Vicente Calderon, said Friday that last year's European Championship victory was one of his most "marvelous" memories, but that it was marred by exits from other major championships.
"I'll remember a lot of the moments I experienced with the team, perhaps more of the bad than the good," Casillas said. "All the eliminations from the Euros and the World Cups, but at least I'm left with the last one.
"It was marvelous and spectacular to win the European Championship after 44 years."
Casillas was instrumental in the Euro 2008 triumph, stopping two penalties during the quarterfinal win against Italy before eventually beating Germany 1-0 in the final. But he also remembers exits at the 2002 and 2006 World Cups and Euro 2004 in Portugal.
The Mostoles native made his debut against Sweden in June 2000.
"I remember being really nervous, I knew it was news and that people were now going be expecting more from me," Casillas recalled of the buildup to that 1-1 draw in Gothenburg. "But I also remember the quarterfinal against Italy when we finally broke through the barrier."
The 28-year-old Spain captain has been a regular with the national team since 2000. Only goalkeeper Andoni Zubizarreta (126) and Raul Gonzalez (102) have played more games than Casillas.
Former Madrid and Spain coach Jose Antonio Comacho had made the biggest impression on Casillas, who also counts two Champions League titles, four Spanish league triumphs and a European Supercup victory among his major trophies.
"You remember a coach more than a teammate, above all Camacho," he said. "He gave me the chance to be third-choice goalkeeper at the European Championship in Belgium and the Netherlands. He gave me that chance, he vouched for me."
