Casillas hopes Benzema has a ´bad game´

Spain captain Iker Casillas hopes France forward Karim Benzema has a ‘bad game’ in their Euro 2012 quarter-final.

Benzema has come in for criticism from some quarters after failing to find the back of the net in France’s three games to date.

Casillas views the 24-year-old striker, who scored 21 times for Real Madrid in La Liga last season, as a very real threat to Spain’s chances of defending their European title.

“I’m really lucky to play on the same team as him, and now destiny has pitted us against each other,” the goalkeeper told reports on Thursday.

“He’s a fantastic player, but I hope he has a bad game on Saturday.”

France eventually limped into the knockout stages, finishing runners-up behind England in Group D after slumping to a surprise 2-0 defeat at the hands of already-eliminated Sweden.

Consequently, many believe the game in Donetsk will be something of a walkover for the Spanish, but Casillas insists he and his colleagues are expecting a very tough test.

“Nobody in the team thinks it is going to be a stroll in the park or a thrashing,” the World Cup winner said.

“We’re going to have to work very hard to beat them.”