Casillas pays tribute 12 years on

Spain captain Iker Casillas has thanked Jose Antonio Camacho for handing him his first international cap 12 years ago.

The Real Madrid goalkeeper was given his debut by then Spain coach Camacho on June 3, 2000 in a warm-up clash with Sweden ahead of the European Championship finals.

The fact that the friendly against China in Seville on Sunday night was scheduled for the same date 12 years later had real significance for the World Cup winner.

“Today, June 3, 2012, is a special day for me,” Casillas wrote on his Facebook profile.

“It was on this day 12 years ago that I played my first international match for Spain.

“Interestingly, Camacho was then the coach of the national team, and Vicente Del Bosque the coach giving me regular football at Real Madrid.

“Well, after 12 years, we are meeting again on the same day: Camacho, Vicente Del Bosque and I.

“Camacho as coach of China, Del Bosque as Spain coach and me, as the kid who fulfilled a dream when he took to the field that day and who, luckily, is still here.

“Thank you Jose Antonio!!”

Casillas, who was an unused substitute at Euro 2000, broke the international wins record when he came on as a substitute for Spain in Wednesday’s 4-1 rout of South Korea – the 95th victory he has taken part in.