Roque Santa Cruz Recalls Memorable Miss Against Casillas in 2010 World Cup

Roque Santa Cruz vividly remembers a defining moment from the 2010 World Cup: a one-on-one opportunity against Spain's legendary goalkeeper Iker Casillas that slipped away. The match, a quarterfinal clash between Paraguay and Spain, ended 1-0 in favor of the Spanish. This particular chance for Santa Cruz was the last in a series of critical missed opportunities for Paraguay, which also included a disallowed goal and a missed penalty kick.

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A little while ago they sent me the video. I hadn't watched it again, I didn't want to, but they sent me the video in slow motion. Obviously, sometimes one thinks: I could have chipped it, done this or that.

Reflecting on the play, Santa Cruz admitted he had avoided rewatching the moment until recently. "A little while ago they sent me the video. I hadn't watched it again, I didn't want to, but they sent me the video in slow motion," he told EFE. "Obviously, sometimes one thinks: I could have chipped it, done this or that."

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I sent him the video and wrote: 'What a save you made.' And he replied: 'You had the whole goal open.'

With Spain leading 1-0, Paraguay launched a counterattack. After a shot from Lucas Barrios was parried by Casillas, the ball fell to Santa Cruz in the six-yard box. Despite the close proximity, Casillas managed to make another save, crushing Paraguay's hopes. Santa Cruz described the game as one his team could have won, highlighting their compactness and balance.

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It was a game that we could have won, we could have pulled it off because our team was very compact, very even in all its lines.

Interestingly, Santa Cruz shared that he sent the video of the missed chance to Casillas. "I sent him the video and wrote: 'What a save you made.' And he replied: 'You had the whole goal open,'" Santa Cruz recounted with a laugh. He acknowledged Casillas's exceptional save but lamented the enduring pain of that elimination for Paraguayans.

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Iker made a fabulous save, obviously he also threw himself knowing the ball would hit him, and well, in the end he cleared it and we suffered for a long time because of that elimination.