"?In a television interview with Spanish television, on a feature known as "Eurocopa Inside", Spain manager Vicente Del Bosque, has explained his decision to prefer three-time Manchester United Player of the Season David De Gea to 167-cap legend Iker Casillas, as per "?ManUtd.com.
De Gea, fresh from another outstanding campaign with the Red Devils, that also saw him named in the PFA Team of the Season, started Spain's opening Euro 2016 match against Czech Republic on Monday, and Del Bosque has moved to explain his difficult choice.
"That Iker doesn't play is painful for me," Del Bosque said, "He is a player that we have to respect because he has been here for 14 years.
"I tried to approach things as normally as possible. I had a talk with him because I felt he deserved it.
"He has more than 160 caps. We always try to make the best choice and the difference between them is minimal.
"I liked how Iker acted on the bench. I saw he was very serene and relaxed. It's good to see the substitutes living the game and feeling the success as if they were on the pitch. He can help us a lot."
The debate between the merits of the two goalkeepers was an ongoing saga in Spain, and Del Bosque's attempts to keep his eventual decision under wraps even extended to keeping it a secret from his own family.
"Even my children would ask me whether David or Iker would play, perhaps to boast what they knew, but I always told them that they have to wait and see.
It's my duty to be discreet until the last minute and I didn't do it as a game."
Spain will be looking to make it two wins from two matches and qualify for the Round of 16 when they take on Turkey in Nice, on Friday night.
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