FIFA World Cup Player Profile: Fernando Torres
It is often said that true stars perform on the biggest stages at the most crucial of moments. What separates a star from a legend is that a Star is remembered by a generation but a legend is forever. Diego Maradonna, Pele, Beckenabuer, Platini and Ronaldo’s names are synonyms of greatness in the game of football, long after they put up their playing boots, while other names have slowly faded away. What set these players apart was how they performed on the biggest of occasions the World Cup and in crucial matches, none more crucial than the World Cup Final.
One player who has the chance to add his name to these greats is Spain’s Euro 2008 Final Hero Fernando Torres. He made a name for himself in Athletico Madrid where he became their youngest captain. His exploits there did not go unnoticed, with Sir Alex Ferguson publicly stating he was a fan. Soon enough he moved to Liverpool where he proved he was a man for the big occasion. Lethal against all, it was his ability to put in that extra special performance against the big teams on big occasions that propelled his status to one of the most terrifying strikers a defender would ever face.
He scored on his Anfield debut against Chelsea. That was just the start, after which he seemed to score on every big occasion. Against Inter Milan at the San Siro where his goal sent Liverpool through to the next round, Against Real Madrid in the 4-0 thrashing at Anfield, twice against Arsenal in the Premier League in a 4-4 draw, Against Chelsea where he scored 2 late goals to hand Liverpool a famous victory and has made a habit of scoring against Manchester United scoring 3 goals in his last 3 matches against them.
But if one really wants to see how he is so perfectly suited to be the man for the big occasion, one only has to see the final of Euro 2008, where in the absence of David Villa, Torres had to take on the responsibility of being Spain’s only front man. He had not been at his best the entire tournament goal scoring wise (scoring only one goal up till the final), but that didn’t seem to lower his confidence as he scored the only goal of the final giving Spain their first major trophy in their history. As they say, “cometh the hour, cometh the man.”
However his season has been plagued by injuries playing only 32 games the entire Premier League season. What’s astonishing is the fact that he scored 22 goals in that time. Meaning when he plays, more often than not, he scores. He can be a peripheral figure throughout the match, but he gets one decent half-chance and the keeper will be picking the ball out the back of his net wondering what happened.
Torres was in the process of recovering from an injury in the buildup to the World Cup and only played in one of Spain’s warm up matches (in which he managed to get his name on the score sheet). He is nowhere near full fitness at this World Cup. His touch isn’t the same, but with each passing game he is recovering a little sharpness, a little more pace and a little more of that magic touch.
His presence seems to lift the Spanish team. Against Switzerland in their opening group game, Spain were woeful. With the introduction of Torres in the second half, Spain seemed a far more aggressive side. Although he didn’t help his side to a goal, his presence boosted the team who gave a much improved performance. Xabi Alonso and David Villa have publically stated their faith in Torres because they know what an asset he is for the team and what he is capable of.
What he has or hasn’t done this far, however, is now irrelevant. His disappointing World Cup campaign can be salvaged in glorious fashion if he turns in a performance on the biggest of stages, the World Cup Final. The chance is there to be remembered with the likes of Pele and Maradonna is there for the taking. All Torres needs to do to achieve immortality is find the back of the Dutch net. His time has come to stand up and be counted, the question is will he take it? All that is for certain is that the Dutch need to be wary of Torres because all he needs… is half a chance.
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