7 howlers that made world class goalkeepers look like amateurs

Goalkeeping is a difficult role; one that requires a lot of patience and awareness. The margin for error for a goalkeeper is the smallest among all the players on a pitch as one mistake from the guardian of the goal could end in the team conceding.Shotstoppers can win you games, and they can certainly lose you one. Goalkeepers consistently save games for his/her team and that is the biggest reason why it is the position that requires the most concentration in order to play in.Sometimes, though, even the best goalkeepers lose their concentration and make mistakes that often cost their team dearly. To make matters worse, goalkeepers’ errors often become an internet sensation. It’s the gravity of these moments that makes them so memorable.Here are moments when even the great goalkeepers of contemporary football made poor mistakes.

#1 Hugo Lloris against Belarus

We start off with the person who has rarely made any errors in his entire career. Hugo Lloris is one of the greatest goalkeepers in the world and will certainly go down as the greatest French ‘keeper by the time he retires.

It is rather unfortunate that he isn’t playing for a Champions League-participating team and that his trophies showcase doesn’t have anything major to justify the talent that he possesses. He is among the best goalkeepers in the Premier League and is among the very first sweeper-keepers.

However, he is not without his flaws as can be seen in this video. Belarus’ Kalachyev was the lucky man as he took a shot from far wide on the right which should have been a routine save for the Frenchman, but he made a mess of it and deflected it straight into the net.

For most ‘keepers, this would be just a mistake but when you are dealing with the standards Lloris has set for himself, it’s a howler.

#2 Iker Casillas against Netherlands

Quite possibly his worst game as a professional goalkeeper. Iker Casillas went into his first game of the 2014 World Cup as the captain of the team that was defending the title.

The last time he played in a World Cup match was against the same team in the final of the 2010 World Cup in Johannesburg and he totally bossed it by denying Arjen Robben twice and making sure that Spain returned home with the trophy.

This time, however, the tides had changed and the legend was brutally embarrassed by a savage Netherlands. As Sergio Ramos played a backpass to his ‘keeper, the Real Madrid legend’s first touch was too heavy and Robin van Persie seized the opportunity to score one of the simplest goals of his career.

#3 Manuel Neuer against Borussia Monchengladbach

Manuel Neuer is regarded as the best goalkeeper in the world right now and rightfully so. There is no doubt that when it comes to sweeping-keeping, he is the best out there.

However, he is not entirely immovable as time and time again, he shows the human aspect of his and makes some really hilarious howlers. One of them, the most recent of the lot, was against Borussia Monchengladbach in 2015.

What should have been nothing but a formality in the name of a save, Neuer made an absolute mess of a straight and not-so-powerful shot from Raffael – a shot that came straight to him and which he should have easily held on to with his gloves.

#4 Petr Cech against Greece

When Arsenal announced the signing of Petr Cech, Gooners all around the world were absolutely delighted with his addition. For so many years, they craved for a genuine world class goalkeeper and now they have one in their ranks.

And the Gooners will hope that he turns up with his usual self – the commanding Cech – instead of this version of him.

As the cross came in, the Czech showed that even his could get “flappy“ at times and let the ball slip. The ball fell to Salpingidis, who all but had to execute a simple tap-in in an open goal. Even Petr Cech can have butter fingers.

#5 Gianluigi Buffon against Lecce

Gianluigi Buffon will go down as one of the best goalkeepers of all time. He has been top-class ever since hitting the scene in the late ‘90s and is still one of the best goalkeepers around.

His unreal consistency has put his among the elite-level sports personalities in the world. A mistake from him in goal is one of the rarest things that occur on the planet but ut happened in 2012 against Lecce.

As Juve were 1-0 up and winning comfortably against Lecce, a tame shot by Andrea Bertolacci wasn’t properly dealt with by the legendary goalkeeper. He let the ball get away from under his arms, letting Lecce salvage a point from the game.

Skip forward by 30 seconds to the howler.

#6 David de Gea against Blackburn Rovers

David De Gea has been Manchester United’s best player in recent seasons and his importance to the team has sky-rocketed over the past few campaigns – so much so that Real Madrid almost got their man before the deal fell through on that fateful deadline day.

However, it wasn’t always like this. The Spaniard endured a tough start to his career at the Old Trafford, leaving doubts in the minds of people who weren’t aware of his heroics at Atletico Madrid.

And they had a good reason, as this video shows. He made an absolute mess of a corner and let Grant Hanley score, infuriating the United fans beyond limits.

#7 Thibaut Courtois against Hull City

Thibaut Courtois is one of the best young goalkeepers in the world; the way he commands his area is more than commendable and his tall stature allows him to deal with all kinds of awkward aerial duels. His unreal reflexes also help him stop a number of shots.

But he isn’t without errors as Abel Hernandez showed us. Against Hull City, he made an absolute mess with a simple back pass as he massively over-touched it – so much that it worked like an assist for Abel Hernandez, who only had to tap it into an open net to score.