Fernando Torres inclusion backed by Andres Iniesta despite goal famine

Published on Sunday 27 March 2011 15:39

Spain midfielder Andres Iniesta has leapt to the defence of Fernando Torres despite the Chelsea striker extending his goal drought against the Czech Republic on Friday night.

Spain registered a hard-fought 2-1 win in Granada, further strengthening their strangehold on Group I in European Championship qualifying, with David Villa grabbing two second-half goals to settle the encounter and make the Barcelona star his country's record goalscorer.

In contrast, Torres started on the bench but was introduced at half-time as coach Vicente del Bosque increased his attacking options with his team trailing to Jaroslav Plasil's 29th-minute opener.

Torres has failed to score since his 50million move from Liverpool to Chelsea in January and again drew a blank, although Iniesta believes the former Atletico Madrid man contributed in other ways.

He said: "Fernando is doing really well.

"It's clear that strikers live to score, but in Granada he gave us plenty of things which people don't see such as hard work, helping out in defence and allowing others the space to play.

"He does work which is not noticed, but it is very fundamental for the team.

"As for the goals, I think it's only a matter of time. He has always scored and he will continue doing so and therefore there are no problems."

Torres' former Liverpool team-mate Alvaro Arbeloa, now at Real Madrid, added: "Fernando has been playing at the top level for many years and it's not the first time he has been through a bad patch in front of goal.

"But when you are as good as him you don't need to worry.

"He needs to keep doing his job and the goals will come."

Spain now boast a perfect record of four victories out of four and lead the Czech Republic by six points and Scotland by eight points as they continue their relentless march to the 2012 finals in Ukraine and Poland.

Next up for Spain is a trip to Lithuania tomorrow with Iniesta concerned about the state of the pitch in Kaunas.

"We will see the full state of it when we get there," he said, "but the pictures I have seen of it remind me of the kind of dirt fields I used to play on as a child.

"It is clearly not the best but we will be prepared."