Although David de Gea could not be blamed for his part in the penalty shootout in Manchester United's defeat against Sunderland, he was almost responsible for his side being knocked out earlier than they were. His dreadful mistake to somehow let Phil Bardsley's shot squirm past him was an embarrassing moment for the Red Devils stopper.
Here, Sports Mole rounds up some of the weirdest and funniest rickets that have been seen from goalkeepers.
1. Fabien Barthez - West Ham United vs. Manchester United
Here's another United keeper doing something silly. While De Gea's was a mistake, this is just a baffling thing to do. Barthez had a history of eccentricities and this is up there with his very weirdest. The French keeper thinks that Paolo Di Canio is offside when he is clear on, but refuses to put his arm down until the Italian slots the ball in. He was perhaps trying to confuse Di Canio but it did not work and he came out looking silly.
2. Khalid Askri - Maghreb Fes vs. FAR Rabat
If there is ever an example for a player to watch if they want to know why they should keep their eye on the ball at all times, this is surely it. Khalid Askri pulls off a crucial save from a penalty, but before making sure that the ball was not going in he was up celebrating his success. I think you can guess what happened next...
3. Hans-Jorg Butt - Schalke 04 vs. Bayer Leverkusen
There are not nearly enough penalty-taking goalkeepers in football these days, but this next one highlights the pitfalls of such an occupation. Leverkusen goalkeeper Hans-Jorg Butt netted a penalty at one end and after lapping up the applause on the jog back to his goal, put his arms in the air to signal that he was ready to start again. He wasn't, but Schalke were, and they bagged the quickest equaliser you will ever see.
4. Rene Higuita - Colombia vs. Cameroon
There is not a lot that could happen on a football pitch for the coaching staff of one of the teams to be losing it laughing. But then Rene Higuita has now retired. Famous for his scorpion kick at Wembley, this was one of Higuita's worst moments for Colombia. He collected a risky pass, sure, but that still doesn't mean he has to try a 360 with Roger Milla right on him. Just clear it, Rene.
5. Peter Enckelman - Birmingham City vs. Aston Villa
There have been countless occasions of goalkeepers miskicking clearances thanks to bobbles in the pitch or overhit backpasses, but there were no such excuses for Peter Enckelman here. All he had to do was control a soft throw-in from Olof Melberg, but with his next pass in his mind, the goalkeeper let it go under his foot and into the net. It went down as an Enckelman own goal but, having not touched it, it probably should not have counted. That shouldn't spare his blushes, of course.
Matt Domm
