FIFA World Cup 2010 Final Report: Spain Is Better Off Without Fernando Torres
Despite the success of the Spanish side in the World Cup, there is still one disappointment in the team, i.e. Fernando Torres. He has failed to impress throughout this World Cup, as there is not a single moment worth remembering which involved the young Spaniard. He has failed to score any goals, or make any significant impact on any of the games that he played for the Spanish side. Although it was too late, but Vicente Del Bosque finally realized the uselessness of the striker, as he did not start him against Germany, as Pedro was given priority over him.
There is no doubt that Fernando Torres is one of the best strikers in the World and has the potential to be a match-winner. He was the one to score the winning goal against Germany in the Spanish victory in the Euro 2008 final. Since then, he has been suffering from a severe goal drought, as he failed to score anything in the Spanish qualifying campaign in the World Cup. Although, he came into the World Cup after a prolonged injury, but still the Spanish fans had their trust in the striker. However, he has failed again, as he did nothing but embarrass his team in the World Cup, as he failed to show any kind of spark.
At one time it looked like Spain would be unstoppable, as they had David Villa and Torres playing alongside each other. Ironically, Fernando Torres did nothing but restrict his team’s attacking options. When Torres plays, Villa plays a little wider behind the forward line. This means that most of the goals should come from Torres, which has not been the case for the Spanish. Instead, in the knock out matches, all the Spanish goals came when Torres was not present on the pitch. In this situation, Villa moves in the front line, thus being able to get into a better position to score a goal, which he did twice in the second round and the quarter final.
In the second round match against Portugal, Torres failed miserably. There are many strikers in the World, who would not find goals, but they helped their teams in different ways, or at least they looked like they were trying. However, Torres looked lost on the ground, with no idea as to what was happening around him. When he was substituted in the 59th minute and Fernando Llorente was brought on, things changed drastically. Llorente looked more threatening, more energetic and more enthusiastic. His strong physical presence gave Spanish an edge, as his head pulled a save out of the Portuguese keeper immediately after the substitution. Soon afterwards, in the 63rd minute David Villa scored the only goal of the match to edge past the Portuguese.
Fernando Torres was again trusted upon by the manager as he was included in the starting line-up against the Paraguayans. Once again, Torres did nothing and looked confused, hence he was substituted in the 53rd minute, as Cesc Fabregas was brought on. Things looked different as soon as Torres left the field, as Fabregas threatened the Paraguayans with his clinical passing and creative playmaking. The Spanish looked more threatening and more composed. Finally, the goal came again in the 83rd minute from David Villa, who actually replaced Torres’ position on the pitch.
The continued failure to impress forced Del Bosque to give Pedro a start instead of Torres, in the Semi-Final against the Germans. Things looked good for the Spanish from the very start of the match, as Pedro did look like the best player on the pitch throughout the game. He made excellent runs, showed exceptional ball control and dribbling, inside the penalty area. He was the one who actually worried the German defenders the most, and ultimately got the award for the Man of the Match. The goal came from an unusual source, Carlos Puyol, from the corner. However, Torres was brought on later in the game, in place of Villa, but still did not leave any impact on the game.
The Spanish would be better off if they leave Torres out of the squad again, for the final. He has done nothing for the team so far, and does not look like he’s going to be doing anything in the final game as well. The Spanish team would succeed despite his presence, which would make Torres the most disappointing superstar in the World Cup.
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