Casillas wants 30-year Madrid stay

Iker Casillas has revealed his dream is to retire at Real Madrid at the age of 39, having spent three decades with the Spanish giant.



The 31-year-old Spain captain on Wednesday marked the 13th anniversary of his first-team debut for Madrid, which came in 1999 against Athletic Bilbao.



Since then Casillas has played 630 official matches for Madrid - the fourth highest in the club's history - and won a host of trophies, including two UEFA Champions League and five Primera Division titles. He has also won the FIFA World Cup and back-to-back European championships with Spain.



Looking to the future, goalkeeper Casillas told his club's official website: "It would be a dream come true and a real joy to finish my career at a club where I had the privilege of starting out when I was just nine.



"I have a contract until I'm 36 and my dream is to finish when I'm 39.



"I'm also aware that it gets more difficult all the time, you have more demands on you, there are always those who set the bar higher and the people don't allow you to fall below that. It's an added responsibility for me."



He added: "I'm happy because I never thought that I would be here so long, even though it was my dream. The years go by quickly, but I'm really pleased with all the things that Real Madrid has given me and all that I've given the club."

Casillas questions qualifying format

Spain's goalkeeper Iker Casillas has raised concern over the possibility of his side failing to qualify for the FIFA World Cup in 2014.



The reigning champions were previously awarded the automatic right to defend their title at the next tournament, but following FIFA rule changes Spain will have to go through UEFA qualifying if they are to be in Brazil in two years.



"Obviously it is strange and unusual that the world champions do not have an automatic ticket for Brazil," Casillas told AS.



"It could happen that we do not reach the World Cup and it would be strange if the champions were not there to defend their title, but we are just thinking about what we are doing."



Drawn in Group I of qualifying, Casillas singled out France as his team's greatest obstacle, with Georgia, Finland and Belarus the other countries in the pool.



"We want to get our first three points, knowing that, in theory, we have games which should not bring us problems, apart from France," he said.



"But we know that these are opponents who can take points off us."



The Spanish team's most-capped player then discussed the opening match against Georgia on Tuesday.



"We know their keeper, (Giorgi) Loria, who was phenomenal against Belarus. We know (Jano) Ananidze, who is a good player.



"As I knew I would be asked, I learned their names."