MADRID: There was a time when Spain's starting lineup was goalkeeper
Iker Casillas
and 10 others.
The former Real Madrid player was a shoo-in to play for his country in a 16-year international career in which he featured 167 times and won two European Championships plus a World Cup.
However, since Casillas left the international scene in 2016, a number of keepers have tried - and failed - to fill the gloves vacated by 'Saint Iker'.
With only one friendly planned before this year's European Championship, Spain are at a crossroads with their goalkeeping options and need to make a decision on style or substance.
Incumbent
Unai Simon
of Athletic Bilbao has earned plaudits for his shot stopping but a lack of composure on the ball means he is ill-suited to Spain's possession-based style.
This was illustrated as Simon was comically dispossessed in midfield after racing from his area to sweep up a through ball during Spain's 3-1 victory over Kosovo on Wednesday, leading directly to the visitors' consolation goal.
Simon had usurped
David de Gea
- the likely viable alternative - as first choice after a number of error-strewn displays for his country by the Manchester United keeper culminated in a 1-0 defeat by Ukraine last October.
De Gea, who is far more comfortable in possession than Simon, has not played for Spain since - and his future at United looks uncertain following the emergence of Dean Henderson.
Any thoughts coach Luis Enrique has of putting him back in the side could be undermined by a lack of action at club level.
Kepa Arrizabalaga
was earmarked as the long-term successor but his disastrous spell at Chelsea has seen his place in the Spain squad taken by Brighton & Hove Albion's
Robert Sanchez
.
Untried at international level and playing for a side struggling in the Premier League, it seems implausible that Sanchez could be first choice for the Euros starting in June.
However, the goalkeeping position is fast becoming a problem that Enrique needs to rectify if La Roja harbour hopes of glory.
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