De Gea targets World Cup glory with Spain
David De Gea admits he is bursting with excitement ahead of the World Cup and hopes to go all the way with Spain in this summer’s tournament.
The irrepressible goalkeeper is heading into his second World Cup finals with his country on the back of an impressive season with Manchester United on a personal level.
Having become the first Manchester United player to claim both the Sir Matt Busby and Players’ Player of the Year awards in the same season three times, De Gea is now looking to get his hands on the greatest trophy in world football, in Russia next month.
“I’m really excited for this World Cup to get under way,” David told MUTV. “I’ve got high hopes and I’m really looking forward to it. We have a great national side and a really top group of players.
“We have come off the back of a really excellent qualification campaign, and now it’s time for the best bit to get started. So now for the good bit, the World Cup tournament itself, and let’s enjoy it and take things game by game and try and perform well and hopefully have a real go at it and maybe even win the World Cup.”
“I’m really excited for this World Cup to get under way. I’ve got high hopes and I’m really looking forward to it.”
A former captain of Spain's successful Under-21 side, De Gea made his senior international debut just before the 2014 World Cup but didn’t feature at the tournament in Brazil, in which Spain made a shock exit at the group stage as holders of the trophy they won for the first time in 2010.
But the 27-year-old has since succeeded long-time keeper and captain Iker Casillas as his nation’s no.1, keeping two clean sheets in four matches at Euro 2016 as Spain were eliminated in the last-16 stage by Italy.
After experiencing his first taste of a major international tournament two years ago in France, De Gea cannot wait to represent his country again on the biggest of stages this summer, and hopes to reproduce the kind of form he has shown week in week out for the Reds, to establish himself as arguably the world’s best keeper.
"Being able to pull on the Spanish national team shirt at a World Cup is something really special. Let’s hope we can make the entire country really happy."
When asked if he’s delighted with the progress he has made for club and country, David replied: “Of course, that’s absolutely right. Being able to pull on the Spanish national team shirt at a World Cup is something really special.
“It’s unbelievable and I’m just so keen for it all to get under way, both the games themselves and all the emotion, and let’s hope we can make the entire country really happy.”