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Spanish team dumps Fernando Torres

Comment: 0 September 8th, 2011 by: admin

The Spanish national team has axed striker Fernando Torres from the Euro 2012 qualifiers due to his poor performance in the Premier League.

According to reports, Chelsea’s £50-million man was ordered to remain in the stands during the squad’s recent tiff against Lichtenstein, which Spain took at 6-0.

Spanish team coach Vicente del Bosque said that no other options were available considering the fact that the striker had scored only 1 goal since his move to Chelsea from Liverpool the previous season.

‘Torres is an important player,’ said del Bosque, ‘but those who stand out in their clubs will get the call to the national team, not the other way around.’

Former Real Madrid coach added that he felt no pressure to issue an apology to Torres, or recall him for the upcoming matches.

Torres’ statistics showing one goal in 29 Premier League appearances has received considerable criticism and ridicule from pundits, claiming that the £50 million was too much considering his performance.

Spain’s attacker Alvaro Negredo insisted that Torres is still a vital part of the national team, and that his attitude remained favourable despite being dumped from the game.

‘He’s still a great team-mate and one of the national team’s captains,’ Negredo said.

‘He came down to the locker room after the game and congratulated me. I’m not going to get into whether he was upset or not.  I would understand it if he were, because it is not pleasant to come and then not play a minute.’

Despite the growing criticism towards Torres’ underperformance, Chelsea coach Andre Villas-boas insists that Torres’ form will eventually emerge.  However the squad’s last 3 games saw Torres being substituted in each match.

Spain is next scheduled to meet the Czech Republic on October 7.

 

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