Fernando Torres has vowed to prove he deserves a place in Spain’s squad for the World Cup.
The Chelsea striker had dropped out of Vicente Del Bosque’s squads last season as he struggled at club level but was included in the preliminary group named earlier in May.
Torres is also part of the 19-man squad to play Bolivia on May 30, the only orthodox striker in line to take part.
Alvaro Negredo and Fernando Llorente have both been left out – but not ruled out of the final 23, the Coach insisted – while Diego Costa wasn’t considered after playing in the Champions League final on Saturday.
Costa had to go off injured after only nine minutes of the showpiece, won by Real Madrid.
“I had a year without coming to the team and I knew anything could happen yesterday,” AS reports Torres as saying.
“I was just waiting to hear my name. I knew I could be in the squad or not but now I have more chances to go to Brazil.
“I appreciate the words of Vicente, who praised my performance in the finals. Now I will fight the rest of these days to be on the final list for Brazil.
“Being on this list is for the game against Bolivia. I’ll take this week, enjoy it and hopefully I can be in the final squad.
“Yes, it’s a big step to be here but in football, until it’s guaranteed, anything can happen.”
Torres added that he is not afraid of competition from the likes of Negredo, Llorente and Costa, stressing it is something with which he has had to deal for a while.
“I always feel competition with everyone,” Torres said.
“Here there has always been a lot of competition since Euro 2008: Morientes, Raul, Villa, Soldado, Negredo, now Costa…the level is very high but we aren’t rivals, we’re partners and whosever turn it is to play with have the support of us all.
“I’m delighted and I hope I start. It’s been a strange year with all the transition [at Chelsea].
“We have been close to everything but in the end we got nothing after consecutive years winning trophies.
“Personally, it has been the same. But being here is a great reward.
“I’ve played fewer minutes than in other seasons and, looking on the bright side, it’s good to feel physically better. I feel great.”
