Girlfriend berates Spanish goalkeeper over loss

Spanish goalkeeper Iker Casillas faced a public dressing-down on Spanish TV from his journalist girlfriend following a gaffe which led to his World Cup side's shock opening defeat by Switzerland, news.com.au reported Friday.

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Casillas looked uncomfortable as his girlfriend, Spanish TV journalist Sara Carbonero, asked him immediately after Wednesday's game: "How did you muck that up?"

Spain is widely seen as the favorite to win the soccer World Cup -- and their 1-0 loss to a lowly-ranked Swiss team has been the upset of the tournament.

Casillas appeared embarrassed as he tried to explain his mistake: "I don't know what to say. I don't know if this defeat will have consequences. The dressing room is fed up."

But Carbonero -- voted the world's sexiest journalist -- has also come under fire and been blamed for the defeat after claims she distracted the goalkeeper with her sideline reports just yards from where Casillas was manning the goal.

Hundreds of Spanish fans posting on soccer websites said that Carbonero distracted Casillas from making the crucial save as he had other things on his mind.

Carbonero dismissed the claims, saying: "Can I destabilize the team? I think it is nonsense."