There have been shades of Wayne Rooney for Fernando Torres at this World Cup, who is lacking form, fitness, goals and smiles. Unlike his England counterpart, though, the Liverpool forward still has the opportunity to carve his identity on the tournament. Both he and his coach are adamant that improvement will follow.
Torres and his Spanish team-mates face archrivals Portugal at Cape Town Stadium tonight. The striker, who was substituted in his side’s final group match against Chile, in which he attracted opprobrium for contributing to Marco Estrada’s dismissal, underwent knee surgery in April and remains bereft of sharpness.
“He’s played in the three games and has progressed in his preparation,” Vicente Del Bosque, the Spain coach, said. “He’s a player who is always a threat.”
Torres has admitted to rustiness. “I’m still a little away from being 100 per cent, although I’m close,” he explained.
Having lost their opening fixture against Switzerland, Spain, who began the competition as favourites, responded with victories over Honduras and Chile.