Villa rallies behind strike partner Torres
Reuters - Wednesday 30 June 2010, 08:36
CAPE TOWN - Spanish goal hero David Villa
has rallied behind Fernando Torres after his strike partner
turned in another disappointing World Cup performance in the
European champions' 1-0 win over Portugal on Tuesday.
Torres has looked well short of his best after returning
from knee surgery days before the tournament and Spain's passage
into the last eight, where they will face Paraguay, was only
secured after he was replaced in the second half by burly Basque
striker Fernando Llorente.
Llorente succeeded in sowing chaos among the Portugal
defence where Torres had failed and was involved in the move
that led to Villa scoring the second-half goal that gave Spain a
1-0 victory over their European neighbours.
"We know what state his knee was in a month ago and I don't
agree with those who say that Fernando Torres's performances
have been below par," Villa told reporters at Cape Town's Green
Point Stadium.
"The only blame you can pin on him in the opening stages (of
the World Cup) is that he hasn't scored," he added. "His desire
to be with the team has been spectacular."
Coach Vicente del Bosque has kept faith with Torres,
deploying him in attack with Villa from the start in Spain's
last three matches in South Africa after bringing him on as a
substitute against Switzerland in their opening Group H game.
The Liverpool striker has yet to repay that faith with a
goal and Llorente's impressive contribution on Tuesday could
prompt Del Bosque to reconsider his tactics.
Del Bosque told a news conference after the Portugal match
that he had withdrawn Torres because the striker was tired.
"More than a tactical change, it was about bringing on a
player who was fresh," he said. "Llorente brought that physical
vitality to the team."
The coach also had warm praise for Villa, who netted his
fourth goal of the tournament and is now just two short of
Raul's national scoring record of 44.
"Apart from the goal he scored, you have to recognise the
enormous amount of work he did for the team," Del Bosque said.
"He is used to playing up front but today he helped out in
defence in a way that left me feeling very pleased."
Spain play their quarter-final against Paraguay at
Johannesburg's Ellis Park Stadium on Saturday and the winners
will take on Argentina or Germany for a place in the final.
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