Spain's Torres shines in 2-0 win against Bolivia
Spain striker Fernando Torres made a strong case for a World Cup place when he capped an impressive performance with a well-taken penalty as the depleted holders strolled to a 2-0 win over Bolivia on Friday.
In the world and European champions' penultimate warm-up
game before they begin the defence of their title in Brazil next
month, Torres made the most of his starting place up front and
substitute Andres Iniesta was also on target as Spain ruthlessly
dominated the defence-minded South Americans in Seville.
Bolivia, who failed to qualify for the World Cup finals,
managed to hold out until halftime before Javi Martinez was
bundled over in the penalty area and Torres calmly slotted the
spot kick past Romel Quinonez in the 51st minute.
It was the 30-year-old Chelsea forward's 37th goal in 107
appearances for Spain after an indifferent season with his club
and he will hope to have done enough to be included in coach
Vicente del Bosque's final squad to be announced on Saturday.
Chances were scarce for both sides at Sevilla's Sanchez
Pizjuan stadium, with Cesar Azpilicueta striking a long-range
effort against the post in the 30th minute and Torres forcing a
sharp save from Quinonez shortly before the break.
Iniesta showed his class when he surged forward in the 84th
minute and curled a low effort in off a post and Sergio Busquets
crashed a long-range drive off the frame of the goal moments
later as the home side pressed forward in the final stages.
GOOD FEELINGS
"It's always much better to travel (to a major tournament)
with good feelings," Iniesta said in an interview with Spanish
television broadcaster Cuatro.
"We worked well and the conclusions from the game are
positive," added the Barcelona playmaker.
"The season has been very demanding and we have a lot of
matches under our belts but what we have ahead of us is
sufficiently exciting and different."
Spain were missing their Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid
contingent, who are on holiday following their clash in
Saturday's Champions League final and will join up with the rest
of the squad on Monday.
Spain, whose final warm-up match is against El Salvador in
Washington DC on June 7, have been drawn in Group B at the World
Cup finals with Netherlands, Chile and Australia.
Their first game is against the Dutch on June 13, a repeat
of the 2010 final which Spain won 1-0 after extra time.
Spain and Bolivia were playing each other for only the
second time after they met at the 1994 World Cup in the United
States, a 3-1 group-phase victory for the Spanish in Chicago.
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