Fernando Torres will look to prove his worth as an international striker again when Spain take on fellow UEFA EURO 2008™ finalists Italy in Elche on 26 March.
Dazzling form
The 23-year-old has emerged as one of the most dangerous strikers in European football this season, scoring at FC Internazionale Milano last week to seal Liverpool FC's passage to the last eight of the UEFA Champions League. It made it four in the competition this season, and he has also registered 20 goals in 27 league appearances for the Reds, bettering his previous campaign high of 19 for Club Atlético de Madrid in 2003/04.
Even better
Torres' move to Anfield last summer closed the chapter on a remarkable spell with Atlético, the club he score 82 times for in 214 league games having joined as a youth, but he has developed further still since heading north. It is something not ignored at home, with Spain goalkeeper Iker Casillas saying: "Fernando knew it was his big chance to play abroad and he has grown as a player."
Villa off colour
Torres will now look to press his case as first-choice striker for Spain at UEFA EURO 2008™, having missed several of Luis Aragonés' side's recent games through injury, with RCD Espanyol pair Luis García and Raúl Tamudo both getting the chance to lead the line over the winter. With Valencia CF's David Villa off form, and Raúl González still out of favour, it is hard to see Torres being overlooked in the summer.
'The key'
Thus far he has scored 15 goals in 46 international appearances, but having scored ten in his last six outings for Liverpool, his goalscoring is spiking dramatically at the moment. Liverpool manager Rafael Benítez said: "We all know Torres is in great form. The whole team is playing well but in the end we need Torres to score – he's the key."
Much expected
The question remains as to whether he can unlock the door into Aragonés first XI for the finals. The coach will expect 'El Niño' – 'The Kid' – to be on his best form as he takes charge of the national team for the 46th time against Italy at the Estadio Manuel Martínez Valero in Elche. He has been an able performer in past international games, but now Torres' time may have come to dazzle.
The 23-year-old has emerged as one of the most dangerous strikers in European football this season, scoring at FC Internazionale Milano last week to seal Liverpool FC's passage to the last eight of the UEFA Champions League. It made it four in the competition this season, and he has also registered 20 goals in 27 league appearances for the Reds, bettering his previous campaign high of 19 for Club Atlético de Madrid in 2003/04.
Even better
Torres' move to Anfield last summer closed the chapter on a remarkable spell with Atlético, the club he score 82 times for in 214 league games having joined as a youth, but he has developed further still since heading north. It is something not ignored at home, with Spain goalkeeper Iker Casillas saying: "Fernando knew it was his big chance to play abroad and he has grown as a player."
Villa off colour
Torres will now look to press his case as first-choice striker for Spain at UEFA EURO 2008™, having missed several of Luis Aragonés' side's recent games through injury, with RCD Espanyol pair Luis García and Raúl Tamudo both getting the chance to lead the line over the winter. With Valencia CF's David Villa off form, and Raúl González still out of favour, it is hard to see Torres being overlooked in the summer.
'The key'
Thus far he has scored 15 goals in 46 international appearances, but having scored ten in his last six outings for Liverpool, his goalscoring is spiking dramatically at the moment. Liverpool manager Rafael Benítez said: "We all know Torres is in great form. The whole team is playing well but in the end we need Torres to score – he's the key."
Much expected
The question remains as to whether he can unlock the door into Aragonés first XI for the finals. The coach will expect 'El Niño' – 'The Kid' – to be on his best form as he takes charge of the national team for the 46th time against Italy at the Estadio Manuel Martínez Valero in Elche. He has been an able performer in past international games, but now Torres' time may have come to dazzle.
