Spain to give Torres the chance to hit form

The Chelsea striker has shown flashes of his former brilliance in recent weeks even though his Stamford Bridge career continues to be a case of one step forward, two steps back.

A fine goalscoring display at Old Trafford against Manchester United was overlooked due to a glaring second-half miss while, in the Blues’ next league game, an early goal was overshadowed by a red card for a lunge on Swansea’s Mark Gower.

Torres has also struggled for his national team, failing to find the back of the net for the world and European champions for over 12 months.

But despite the question marks hanging over the former Atletico Madrid and Liverpool player, Del Bosque seems likely to start him against the Scots.

He told reporters at a press conference: “He is doing well for his club. A player cannot be constantly judged, we have to look at it from a broader perspective. We must be fair because he has a lot of competition but Torres has a history and a presence.”

Torres started Friday’s 2-0 win in the Czech Republic but was withdrawn for David Villa just after the hour mark.

“I saw Fernando in good form with a lot of energy and enthusiasm,” said Del Bosque.

“Unfortunately we didn’t find the right pass for him against the Czechs. He did what I asked of him. Fernando made them defend deep and opened up space.”

Del Bosque was less willing to guarantee the £50 million man a place in his squad for the Euro 2012 finals, for which his team have already qualified.

“For the Euros we will see what happens, nobody will have privileges,” he said.

Victor Valdes is another set to play against Craig Levein’s men having found opportunities limited behind Real Madrid’s Iker Casillas and Liverpool stopper Jose Reina. Remarkably for a player of his stature, it will be a first competitive start for Valdes.

“He has great qualities, he dominates his area and is a very strong goalkeeper,” said Del Bosque of the Barcelona goalkeeper. “He’s also a nice guy who has adapted well to the situation.”

Spain have a 100 per cent record after seven qualifying games in Group I and Del Bosque is demanding they go out on a high. He is also aware of the need to respect the situation in the pool, with Scotland and the Czech Republic vying for the runners-up spot.

He said: “We have to show the same attitude as we did against the Czech Republic the other day. As an arbiter of this situation we must continue on the same path.”

The hosts are without Real Madrid centre-half Raul Albiol due to a broken cheekbone sustained in training, with Barca’s Carles Puyol set to step in.

Spain’s devastating 25 minutes in Prague on Friday night sealed a 13th consecutive victory in competitive internationals gave and Scotland a glimmer of hope in their bid to finish second in Group I.

The problem for Levein and the rest of a hopeful, if not expectant, Scottish nation is that after 44 years of disappointment, European Championship and World Cup victories have given Spain confidence without the complacency sometimes apparent in very successful sides.

Even though Del Bosque is likely to make a number of changes for tonight’s game, this should not be seen as a great boost for the Scots. If, for instance, Del Bosque rotates Friday night’s front three of Juan Mata, David Silva and Torres, the task will remain just as daunting. David Villa will start his 80th international looking for his 50th goal in a Spanish shirt and could be joined by Barcelona teammates Pedro Rodriguez and Thiago Alcantara, as well as Malaga’s €20m summer star buy Santi Cazorla after all three were unused on Friday night.

It will be astounding to many Premier League followers that Silva and Mata are far from first-team certainties but it is this amazing strength in depth that has kept Spain on the top of world football for the past four years. What other side on the planet could write off the absence of Andres Iniesta and Cesc Fabregas – who will both miss the match through hamstring injuries – and still leave players of the calibre of Villa, Cazorla, Thiago and the Athletic Bilbao duo of Javi Martinez and Fernando Llorente on the bench as Del Bosque did in Prague?

Two questions though do remain as Del Bosque begins his preparation for next summer’s Euros that Scotland could take advantage of this evening.

The first regards Torres, a player deeply admired by his manager and loved within the Spanish squad. No-one has forgotten that the goal which started this amazing run of Spanish success was his in the European Championships final in Austria three years ago, but the Chelsea striker’s only goals in this qualification campaign came against Liechtenstein in September last year and the fact he may retain his place for tonight’s match suggest Del Bosque is offering him one more, and potentially final shot, at redemption before looking at other options in the friendlies leading up to the finals.

The other question comes at the other end of the field, where Del Bosque could field an experimental backline in front of goalkeeper Valdes, who comes in for the rested Casillas who will now have to wait to equal Andoni Zubizarreta’s Spanish record of 126 caps.

The left-back position has been vacated by Joan Capdevilla in the past six months and Del Bosque is yet to settle upon a regular replacement. Alvaro Arbeloa has played there in recent matches but the former Liverpool defender is more comfortable on the right-side, where he is likely to play this evening in place of the injured Sergio Ramos.

That will mean a debut for Valencia’s Jordi Alba on the left and leaves Del Bosque with only two fit natural centre-backs in the Barcelona duo of Gerard Pique and Puyol.

Both have just returned from injury and Puyol in particular has looked like a weak link for club and country in recent months. He was fortunate not to be shown a straight red-card on Friday for a foul on Milan Baros that could have been interpreted by referee Paolo Tagliavento as denying a clear goalscoring opportunity and could be exposed if Scotland can feed balls into the channel between he and Arbeloa this evening.