Wojciech Szczesny has plenty of company in boneheaded World Cup mishaps

2. Iker Casillas: Spain vs Netherlands, 2014 World Cup

There are few more experienced and decorated goalkeepers in the history of the game as Iker Casillas.

However, he was the chief scapegoat when La Roja crashed out in the group stages in Brazil. The Spaniard made a number of high profile mistakes, but the worst came in a 5-1 defeat to the Netherlands. The Spanish were 3-1 down heading towards the end of the second half when Casillas mishandled a pass from his defender to allow Robin Van Persie to snatch away possession and slide home his second of the game.

The game finished 5-1, the worst defeat ever suffered by a defending world champion and it spelt the end of Casillas’s long reign in nets for La Roja.

1. Oliver Kahn: Germany vs Brazil, 2002 World Cup

Soccer can truly be a cruel sport at times and perhaps among the cruelest World Cup moments came during the 2002 World Cup final. The free scoring forces of Brazil seemed destined for a fifth world title ahead of their final against Germany, however, Die Mannschaft had cause for hope. In Oliver Kahn, they possessed one of the greatest goalkeepers of his generation and a strong contender for player of the tournament.

Next: Russia 2018: The best player on every team at the World Cup

Kahn denied the Brazilians repeatedly throughout the first half and into the second, however, as the clock approached the 70th minute, the German shot stopper made a costly blunder. Brazil won the ball back in the German half and fired a firm shot towards goal, Kahn appeared to catch it before letting the ball slip through his gloves and handed Ronaldo a tap in to put his team in front. Brazil came away 2-0 winners and although Kahn won the Golden ball for best player, he described the mistake as the worst of his career and it was the closest the legendary shot stopper came to an international trophy.