In the Rainbow Nation, Fernando Torres has looked nothing like the man who has been haunting Premier League defenders for the past few years. It’s not just that his long blonde locks have given way for a trimmed look.
No, it’s his play that has asked many to chant à la Marshall Mathers “Will the real Fernando Torres please stand up?”
With growing calls for removing him from the staring line-up and inserting the physically imposing Fernando Llorente, who impressed in his brief appearance against Portugal in the pre-quarterfinal after coming on for Torres, its crunch time for the Liverpool ace — who underwent knee surgery less than a month and a half before the World Cup.
However, La Furia Roja coach Vincente Del Bosque and strike partner David Villa are firm believers in the saying, “form is temporary, class in permament”, and have thrown their weight behind the Reds striker to deliver the goods when it counts the most.
“Fernando is our centre forward. He has put in a lot of minutes in four matches and will continue to do so and we have absolute confidence in him,” Del Bosque insisted.
He stressed that players of Torres’ calibre can make a difference just by their mere presence on the field.
“He shoulders a vast amount of work for the team, sticks to the centre-backs (of the opposing team), draws out defences and creates space for Villa and other players behind him,” said the former Real Madrid coach. “He is going to be very useful to us going forward.”
Strike partner Villa has benefited immensely from Torres’ play and feels that he has been crucial to Spain’s success.
“The only thing you can reproach (Torres) for is not to have scored yet. His desire to be with the team is truly spectacular,” Villa said. “We know what state his knee was in a month ago and I do not agree with those people who say that Fernando Torres’ performances have been below par.
“Torres helped the side a lot against Portugal and is not in bad form. He has admirable character and we all know his World Cup moment will arrive — hopefully against Paraguay on Saturday,” concluded Villa.