Fernando Torres has rejected talk of facing Brazil in the Confederations Cup Final, pointing to Spain’s awareness of what it is to face Italy first.
La Roja are favourites to advance to the competition final, but must first defeat the Azzurri in Fortaleza on Thursday evening.
“A Brazil-Spain final? We are thinking of Italy. It was also possible in 2009 yet it did not occur,” determined Torres to Marca.
“Let’s go step by step and not make the same mistakes. Brazil-Spain is a final everybody wants, but both Brazil and Spain have to have respect for Uruguay and Italy, who have been world champions.
“They will be games in which you can have no margin for error.
“The Spanish know what Italy has meant to Spain throughout the history of the game. They have knocked us out of World Cups and European Championships.
“Now we have the wins in 2008 and last year as a reference, we know what we have to do, but a team with great players like they have can be very dangerous.
“And if they have been hurt in the past, they can be even more dangerous. When they have to compete they will compete because they have done so all their lives.”
The Chelsea striker is currently out in front in the scoring charts for the Confederations Cup with five goals.
“I feel great, physically good, despite the season being a long one. I feel very comfortable, strong and quick.
“The criticism of my form? In the end I think it is people who remember my first year at Chelsea, which was not good, rather than the current situation.
“I am happy with how I’m playing even though I am very demanding. Things are getting back to normal for me.”
The 29-year-old also reflected on the demands placed on the Spanish team.
“You win 3-0 in the final phase of a tournament and still people think you can do better.
“We have lived through generations of teams that were eliminated, that lost games or thought a 1-0 win was enough.
“Now the fact that winning 3-0 is not enough shows how far we have come.”
