Spain rally behind De Gea as questions swirl over goalkeeper's form

Spain players are rallying behind goalkeeper David De Gea as they prepare for their second group game at the World Cup against Iran in Kazan on Wednesday.

De Gea endured an evening to forget in Spain's opening match against Portugal on Friday, committing a howling error to allow Cristiano Ronaldo to score his second goal on the way to a hat-trick in the 3-3 thriller in Sochi.

Ronaldo scored from all three of Portugal's attempts on target against the Manchester United goalkeeper and suddenly new coach Fernando Hierro has found himself having to defend the 27-year-old.

"We don't doubt him and he doesn't doubt himself either," said Hierro after La Roja kicked off their Group B campaign.

"I embraced him. We know goalkeeper is a special position, with a special psychology, and we have no doubts. Honestly," added Hierro, hastily promoted to the role as coach last week after Julen Lopetegui's shock sacking on the eve of the tournament.

On the whole, the Spanish performed well in their first outing, especially considering the upheaval of the days before the game, and the underwhelming results of the other pre-tournament favourites put the Portugal draw in a more positive light.

But De Gea's form has to be a matter of real concern.

It was his error that gifted Switzerland a goal in a 1-1 friendly draw just before Spain departed for Russia, and now -- after one game -- they have already conceded one goal more than in the whole of their triumphant 2010 World Cup campaign.

Iker Casillas was in goal then, the icon who De Gea succeeded and to whom he will always be compared.

"Only those of us who put on the gloves and go out on the field know how difficult it is," the man himself said. "The coach is with me, it was an error and these things can happen."
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