Torres scores as Spain hits top gear
Source: Agencies |
June 10, 2010, Thursday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
STRIKER Fernando Torres returned from injury as a substitute and scored for Spain in a 6-0 rout of Poland, its final World Cup warmup match on Tuesday.
The forward came on for David Villa after 66 minutes, making his first appearance since having knee surgery in April, and netted the side's fifth goal 10 minutes later.
He was the only member of Vicente del Bosque's 23-man squad who had yet to feature after warmup wins over Saudi Arabia and South Korea in Austria.
The European champion had failed to impress in either of those games but was back to its best on home turf with Villa, David Silva, Xabi Alonso, Cesc Fabregas and Pedro adding the other goals.
"I haven't played for almost two months and was very keen to return, but I wasn't as ready as I thought and had to ease off a little (last week)," Torres told Spanish state television.
"The coach and the doctors held me back a while, but in the end they gave me a run out, and I managed to score."
The only concern for Del Bosque was midfielder Andres Iniesta who asked to be substituted just before the break with a thigh muscle strain.
With a starting XI that looked much like its strongest lineup Spain raced into the lead, Iniesta crossing for Villa to put away with the defender's help, as they slid in at the back post after 12 minutes.
Villa's 38th goal for Spain, which leaves him just six short of record holder Raul, rocked the Poles and they quickly conceded a fabulous second.
Iniesta was stationary and surrounded by defenders when he spotted Barcelona teammate Xavi's run into the area, and lifted the ball over the defence. Xavi squared first time for Silva who slotted away unmarked.
Poland held World Cup-bound Serbia to a 0-0 draw last week and forced Iker Casillas into a one-handed save, but there was little else for the Spanish captain to do.
Spain's opening Group H fixture is against Switzerland in Durban on June 16, before facing Honduras and Chile.
The forward came on for David Villa after 66 minutes, making his first appearance since having knee surgery in April, and netted the side's fifth goal 10 minutes later.
He was the only member of Vicente del Bosque's 23-man squad who had yet to feature after warmup wins over Saudi Arabia and South Korea in Austria.
The European champion had failed to impress in either of those games but was back to its best on home turf with Villa, David Silva, Xabi Alonso, Cesc Fabregas and Pedro adding the other goals.
"I haven't played for almost two months and was very keen to return, but I wasn't as ready as I thought and had to ease off a little (last week)," Torres told Spanish state television.
"The coach and the doctors held me back a while, but in the end they gave me a run out, and I managed to score."
The only concern for Del Bosque was midfielder Andres Iniesta who asked to be substituted just before the break with a thigh muscle strain.
With a starting XI that looked much like its strongest lineup Spain raced into the lead, Iniesta crossing for Villa to put away with the defender's help, as they slid in at the back post after 12 minutes.
Villa's 38th goal for Spain, which leaves him just six short of record holder Raul, rocked the Poles and they quickly conceded a fabulous second.
Iniesta was stationary and surrounded by defenders when he spotted Barcelona teammate Xavi's run into the area, and lifted the ball over the defence. Xavi squared first time for Silva who slotted away unmarked.
Poland held World Cup-bound Serbia to a 0-0 draw last week and forced Iker Casillas into a one-handed save, but there was little else for the Spanish captain to do.
Spain's opening Group H fixture is against Switzerland in Durban on June 16, before facing Honduras and Chile.
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