Fernando Torres has yet to spark into life at the World Cup, although Spain’s Euro 2008 hero has the ideal stage to rediscover his best form in tonight’s last-16 clash with Portugal.
After returning from knee surgery shortly before the tournament, Torres was overshadowed by strike partner David Villa in the European champions’ three Group H matches and looks well short of his best.
While Villa netted three times, including two of the finest goals so far in South Africa, Torres squandered several chances and looked a shadow of the player who scored a brilliant winning goal in the Euro 2008 final against Germany.
“It’s not easy coming back after an operation,” the 26-year-old said in an interview with Spanish radio on Saturday.
“I think I still have a little way to go before I am back at 100 percent, although I am close,” he added.
Vicente del Bosque is likely to keep faith with Torres alongside Villa in a two-pronged attack as the Spanish seek to become the first team to score against the resilient Portuguese at this World Cup.
The Spain coach has been at pains to point out that there is more to Torres than goals, noting that the powerful forward has an important role in sowing chaos among defenders.
“The main thing is that he played in the three [group] matches, he has been making progress in his preparation and he is better,” Del Bosque told reporters on Saturday.
“He may not have scored, but he helps us by being a menace for the opposition’s defense,” the Spain coach said. “And when he gets into space he is always a very dangerous player.”
Spain and Portugal, who have never met at a finals, know the winners at Cape Town’s Green Point Stadium will avoid the big guns with Paraguay or Japan waiting in the last eight.
Del Bosque and Portugal coach Carlos Queiroz both have injury concerns, with Spain midfielder Xabi Alonso doubtful after spraining an ankle against Chile and Portugal winger Danny struggling with a left thigh injury.
Midfielder Deco has recovered from the hip problem that ruled him out of Portugal’s final two Group G games and Spain central defender Raul Albiol, who has been an unused substitute thus far, is sidelined after being injured in training.
Portugal also have seven players on yellow cards: Cristiano Ronaldo, Pedro Mendes, Hugo Almeida, Pepe, Tiago, Fabio Coentrao and Duda, while the Spanish have not collected a single caution.
Midfielder Javi Martinez, who would likely replace Alonso in Spain’s starting lineup, also jumped to Torres’ defense.
“Fernando has been bringing a lot to the team,” the 21-year-old, who was a surprise inclusion in the squad and has made only three appearances for the European champions, told a news conference on Sunday. “The space he opens up is fantastic for us and I am sure he will rediscover his top form in the next few matches.”
The showdown in Cape Town has an intriguing subtext, as Queiroz was the man Real Madrid president Florentino Perez brought in to replace Del Bosque when he ditched him at the end of the 2003 season.
Del Bosque had steered Real to two European Cups and two league titles in three-and-a-half years and was upset at his treatment, which he called “unjust, aggressive and insensitive.”
Bayer 04 Leverkusen go into today’s match at TSG 1899 Hoffenheim stung from their first league defeat in 16 months. Leverkusen were beaten 3-2 at home by RB Leipzig before the international break, the first loss since May last year for the reigning league and cup champions. While any defeat, particularly against a likely title rival, would have disappointed coach Xabi Alonso, the way in which it happened would be most concerning. Just as they did in the Supercup against VfB Stuttgart and in the league opener to Borussia Moenchengladbach, Leverkusen scored first, but were pegged back. However, while Leverkusen rallied late to
The lights dimmed and the crowd hushed as Karoline Kristensen entered for her performance. However, this was no ordinary Dutch theater: The temperature was 80°C and the audience naked apart from a towel. Dressed in a swimsuit and to the tune of emotional music, the 21-year-old Kristensen started her routine, performed inside a large sauna, with a bed of hot rocks in the middle. For a week this month, a group of wellness practitioners, called “sauna masters,” are gathering at a picturesque health resort in the Netherlands to compete in this year’s Aufguss world sauna championships. The practice takes its name from a
Japanese players are moving to English soccer in record numbers and more look set to follow with clubs attracted by their quality, strong work ethic and value for money. Kaoru Mitoma is the standout talent of five Japanese players in the English Premier League, with eight more in the Championship and two in League One. Liverpool midfielder Wataru Endo, the captain of Japan, believes his compatriots are “being held in higher esteem” by English clubs compared with the past. “The staff at Liverpool ask me about lots of Japanese players, not necessarily with a view to a transfer, but just saying this or
Taiwan yesterday survived Bosnia and Herzegovina to win their Davis Cup World Group I tie at the Taipei Tennis Center. The tight series started on Saturday with world No. 123 Jason Tseng losing 3-6, 7-5, 6-4 to Mirza Basic in the opening singles matchup. However, teammate Tony Wu kept the tie even, dominating world No. 86 Damir Dzumhur 6-2, 6-1. Yesterday, 24-year-old Ray Ho and partner 25-year-old Hsu Yu-hsiou kept up the momentum, making short work of Basic and Nerman Fatic, winning 6-3, 6-4. Tseng then suffered another defeat, losing 6-4, 2-6, 6-2 to Dzumhur in a brutal match that lasted more than two