Chelsea star Fernando Torres has stated that he expects the Spanish national team to return to winning ways after being humiliated 5-1 by Netherlands in the opening group match at the World Cup 2014. Spain came into the tournament as one of the favourites to lift the title. They have won the last three major tournaments in which they have participated. After having lost the Confederations Cup last summer, there were doubts as to whether Spain would struggle in this competition. The doubts only increased after a 5-1 humiliation against Netherlands.
Despite going into the half-time break with a 1-0 advantage thanks to a penalty from Xabi Alonso, Spain capitulated in the second half with Robin van Persie and Arjen Robben starring the Spanish defence apart. Both these players grabbed two goals each to move in front of several players in the FIFA Golden Boot award race. The defeat puts them at a serious disadvantage – especially with regard to goal difference – in order to get away from the group stages. The remaining two matches will be against Chile and Australia.
Torres, who came off the bench against Netherlands, says that he expects Spain to play like world champions against Chile. Torres has seen Diego Costa take up the first-team spot. “There are people who have taken advantage of the defeat to stick the boot in. But within the squad we don’t need to criticise ourselves. It would be easy to point fingers and look out for the guilty people to blame but that is an excuse for losers. This is a group which wins and loses together. The people who look to lay the blame are people who have competed at this level,” said the Chelsea striker.
After months of speculation, it was recently confirmed that he would stay at Chelsea into the new campaign.