Casillas considers Italy favourites

Spain goalkeeper and custodian Iker Casillas has turned the pressure on Italy ahead of the two nation's titan clash in the fourth and final quarter-finals of the UEFA Euro 2008 on Sunday.

The Real Madrid custodian, who is featuring as a captain for Spain in the competition, says that it is Italy and Spain who are the favourites for this match, thereby shifting the pressure on the Italians.

Casillas told the press:

"Italy are favourites because of their history, they have reached more finals, have more titles and because Spain only got one Euro trophy and that was a long time ago."

"What we have to do is to confirm this good spirit and the football that we showed during the group phase but Italy are always Italy."

"What we have to do is to break once and for all the quarter-finals' curse."

Iker Casillas singled out the Italian international striker Luca Toni as the man to watch out for. He said:

"We have to pay attention to dead ball situations because Luca Toni is a very tall player.

"We also have to be careful with the other type of players that have different qualities and that we can't leave alone."