Out of form & out of the team

Torres

 When Spain's players emerged triumphant from last summer's World Cup final against the Netherlands, there was one winner who looked rather less happy than the rest. Fernando Torres had been a part of La Roja's success in South Africa, but his performances had been disappointing all the way through the tournament and he had lost his place for the showpiece encounter against the Dutch.

Weeks later, Torres spoke of his joy at lifting football's biggest prize, but also of his frustration at being unable to shine on a personal level or score a vital goal, as he had done in the final of Euro 2008 just two years earlier

Torres underwent knee surgery just two months before the World Cup and faced a race in time to be back for the competition. His subsequent off-colour performances were put down to a lack of fitness and games. He would soon return to his brilliant best, it was claimed.

But he hasn't.

Following a few unhappy months back at Liverpool, where he been sensational in his first three seasons, despite suffering from injuries, Torres sought to revive his career with Chelsea. The striker upset Reds fans as he moved in a €58 million [£50.9m] deal which was supposed to revive a flagging international career.

But it hasn't.

The Spain striker has scored just one goal in 21 appearances for his new club and currently looks anything but a sound investment on the part of Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich. And to compound his misery, Torres is now losing his place in the national side as well.

Spain coach Vicente del Bosque not only left out Torres in his side's Euro 2012 qualifier on Tuesday, but decided there was no room on the bench either for the former Atletico Madrid man. Torres watched on glumly as Spain racked up a six-goal victory over Liechtenstein and sealed their place at the continental competition with two matches to spare.



source:Ben Hayward | Spanish Football Editor