Sergio Goycochea in 1990. Rustu Recber in 2002. Rob Green in 2010.
A great goalkeeper can be the difference between congratulations and commiseration, particularly at the World Cup.
You can read RealSport’s best number twos feature HERE.
Just ask Barbosa, the infamous Brazil goalkeeper who had the misfortune of letting in the goal that denied his country the World Cup in 1950. His nation and his sport never forgave him.
The following five stoppers will be hoping to avoid such rotten fortune. Each of them have a crucial role to play in their country’s hopes, but all will have stringent questions to answer throughout the next month.