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Scrutiny over Casillas girlfriend | |
(about 2 hours later) | |
Sara Carbonero stands a few feet away from her goalkeeper boyfriend | |
Spanish football fans have been speculating that goalkeeper Iker Casillas may have been distracted by his TV reporter girlfriend. | |
Attention focused on Casillas after Spain's shock 1-0 defeat to Switzerland in their first game of the World Cup. | |
His girlfriend, Sara Carbonero, once voted the world's sexiest journalist, was filming behind the goalmouth before the game. | |
She then conducted a post-match interview with Casillas. | |
The wives and girlfriends of Spanish players, known as esposas y novias (wives and girlfriends), are barred from accompanying them to the tournament. | |
Iker Casillas and Sara Carbonero have been an item since 2009 | |
Before the World Cup, when it was announced Carbonero would be in South Africa doing her trademark post-match interviews, she dismissed claims she would be disruptive, saying: "Can I destabilise the team? I think it's nonsense." | |
In Wednesday's match, Swiss midfielder Gelson Fernandes bundled the ball into Spain's goal in the 52nd minute of the game. | |
Casillas had rushed out to tackle a Swiss forward, but failed to grab the ball, which fell luckily for Fernandes. | |
Later, Spanish football websites carried comments suggesting that the presence of 25-year-old Carbonero could have affected Casillas's performance. | |
Casillas said in the post-match interview that the players were "annoyed" at the defeat. | |
Carbonero, who was voted Sexiest Reporter in the World by FHM USA last year, has been dating the Real Madrid goalkeeper since 2009. | Carbonero, who was voted Sexiest Reporter in the World by FHM USA last year, has been dating the Real Madrid goalkeeper since 2009. |
Before their opening match, Spain were rated as co-favourites to win the tournament alongside Brazil. | Before their opening match, Spain were rated as co-favourites to win the tournament alongside Brazil. |