Spain striker Fernando Torres will not participate in Spain’s opening World Cup Group H match against Switzerland on Wednesday,coach Vicente del Bosque said.

The striker looked to be near full fitness in training at Spain’s base in Potchefstroom on Sunday as he continued his recovery from the knee surgery he had in April but caution seems to be the priority for the coach.

“I don’t think he’ll play the first match, although he is not ruled out either,” Del Bosque said in an interview with Spanish television broadcaster Telecinco late on Saturday.

(more…)

Liverpool and Spain striker Fernando Torres insisted on Wednesday that the FIFA World Cup 2010 is Spain’s to lose.

“We feel it’s our chance and we want to take advantage of it. We feel it’s our turn and we want to continue to make history,” said Torres, who scored the winning goal in Spain’s Euro 2008 victory over Germany.

“The team is fundamentally the same (as in 2008),” he said.

Liverpool striker Torres, who underwent knee surgery in April, said that he remained “cautious but optimistic” about his fitness for the tournament which gets underway on June 11.

(more…)

Chelsea have laid a record-breaking £70 million offer on the table for Liverpool striker Fernando Torres, according to reports.

The Daily Mail, splashing the bombshell across its back page, claims that ‘preliminary discussions have already taken place, with the outcome of those meetings positive enough to convince Roman Abramovich that he will beat his big-spending rivals at Eastlands to the 26-year-old Spaniard’.

Manchester City, whose manager Roberto Mancini publicly confirmed his interest in signing Torres two weeks ago, had previously been thought favourites to sign Torres were he to leave Anfield. Fleet Street continues to maintain that the Spaniard is considering his future at the club despite signing a new deal last year.

(more…)

Liverpool FC have confirmed that striker Fernando Torres will undergo surgery on a knee injury later this evening.

A club spokesman said: “Fernando saw a specialist in Spain earlier today and it was decided that he would need surgery on a torn cartilage in his right knee.

“This will be carried out later tonight.  We cannot comment ahead of the operation, but as a guide, the usual rehabilitation period for this type of procedure is around six weeks.”

Source: liverpoolfc.tv

Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez got some good news for a change coming from a specialist that Fernando Torres could return to first-team action within a week.

The Spanish striker missed Sunday’s goalless draw with Fulham to travel to his homeland for treatment on his injured knee. And his doctor, specialist Ramon Cugat, believes five days rest might be enough for the 26-year-old.

“The problem is not serious but he needs to stop and rest to avoid more risk because it’s the same knee on which he had surgery in January,” Cugat said, according to theDaily Mail.

(more…)

Liverpool‘s Fernando Torres has warned English Premier League defenders that there is still lots of room for improvement in his game.

The Spain international scored twice in Sunday’s 3-0 win over Sunderland, netting a brilliant opener with his smartly-taken second making it 18 goals in 21 Barclays Premier League appearances.

Glen Johnson’s deflected shot came in between those two strikes as Liverpool could easily have run out winners by six or seven goals such was their dominance, especially in a thrilling first half performance.

(more…)

Fernando Torres scored two goals as Liverpool delivered one of their best performances of the season to beat Sunderland 3 – 0 at Anfield on sunday.

After Tottenham Hotspur beat Portsmouth 2-0 on Saturday it was essential for Liverpool to keep in touch and they did it in style.

Spurs remained fourth on 58 points from 31 games with Liverpool fifth on 54 from 32. Manchester City, who have played only 30 and face Wigan Athletic on Monday, have 53 with Aston Villa on 51 from 31 after their 7-1 thrashing by Chelsea.

(more…)