Romeu backs Torres to shine World Soccer Shop

Chelsea star Oriol Romeu thinks his team-mate Fernando Torres will be a key player for Spain at Euro 2012 despite enduring a difficult season.

Torres: Has a fan in Romeu

Torres, who cost the London club £50million when he was signed from Liverpool in January last year, scored just 11 goals in 48 appearances at club level this season but is expected to start when Spain begin the defence of their European crown against Italy on Saturday.

However, Romeu thinks his experience of the big occasions and workrate could prove vital for the world champions.

He told Marca: "I think that Torres will be a very important player for the national team at the Euros because he is a player with great quality and experience and these characteristics are very important in a forward.

"He is very important for Chelsea too. You only have to look at how the fans love him and chant his name, whilst he is also loved amongst the players and directors at the club."

Torres admitted last week that he was as excited as ever to play for his country after being left out by Vicente Del Bosque for the friendly against Venezuela in February and Romeu believes being dropped provoked a reaction in the World Cup winner.

"It is true that when you lose something you realise how important it is and this is what happened with Fernando in the national team," he said.

"When Del Bosque left him out he did so to give him a warning and he took it well, naturally he continued to work until the end of the season and now he is there with a great chance of having a good European Championship."

On his own situation at Chelsea, Romeu was more guarded after featuring only twice since Roberto Di Matteo replaced Andre Villas-Boas in March.

He said: "That I have played less is a reality but there are times when you play more or less and you have to accept that, but now it is a difficult time.

"The manager said he believed in me but when we entered a phase in which we played a lot he chose the players he believed were more suited to play. But I expect to start again in the new season and if I continue to work bit by bit I believe I can get into the team.

"More than anything I believe I can do as I have already shown I can play from the start. When you look at what has happened you know it is not a utopia and you can return to achieve it again."

The former Barcelona midfielder also reflected on an eventful first season at Stamford Bridge, which culminated in dumping his old side of the Champions League at the semi-final stage on their way to winning the tournament.

"It has been a brutal season," he continued.

"We believed in ourselves and the team knew what we could do. We believed in our chances, even against Barcelona, and this allowed us the chance to reach the Champions League final."

Romeu is also hoping to start next season in fine fashion by playing in the Olympics which start at the end of July.

The 20-year-old was involved in the Spain Under-23 side that beat Egypt in February and is expected to be named in Luis Milla's squad for the games, but is wary given how well a number of other players finished the season whilst he was not playing at Chelsea.

"Hopefully I can go with the national team but I have to wait and see the squad list, because the level of players that could go to the Olympics is spectacular," he said.

"They have been playing for big teams, have won the Europa League or been playing in finals.

"The Olympics is a once in a lifetime experience and I would like to be there. The people of Spain have been spoiled with triumphs recently but Olympic gold is a huge thing.

"To be in London with Spain would be a bit strange, but nice at the same time because it is the city where I live and I enjoy it. To see a completely different atmosphere would be something special."

Source : http://soccer365.com//news/european_news/general/17752/romeu_backs_torres_to_shine

Torres hoping for trophy hat-trick

Striker Fernando Torres wants to follow up Chelsea’s Champions League and FA Cup success by winning Euro 2012 with Spain.

Vicente del Bosque’s side are the holders of the UEFA European Championships, and among the favourites again to win the tournament in Poland and Ukraine.

Torres, 28, netted the only goal in Spain’s 1-0 triumph over Germany in the Euro 2008 final.

And with his country’s all-time leading goal-scorer David Villa ruled out through injury, the pressure is on Torres to lead the line during the competition.

“I had a great end of season in which I collected two titles and I hope to win the Euro and put the cherry on the cake,” he said.

“Currently we are considered favourites for the Euro 2012 and we have a different kind of pressure. I have new hopes after a tough year for me.

“It’s not easy to be here, but what we want now is to maintain Del Bosque’s trust in us, play as much as possible and make a big contribution to the team.

“That’s what I’m here for. We have a collective target, not an individual one.”

Source : http://www.soccernews.com/torres-hoping-for-trophy-hat-trick/95838/

Torres sparks Spain, Holland scare World Soccer Shop

Fernando Torres scored on his return to the fold as Spain continued their preparations for Euro 2012 with a 4-1 win over South Korea in Bern.

Torres: Is congratulated after scoring the opener

The Chelsea forward opened the scoring in the 11th minute with a neatly flicked header from Benat Etxebarria's fine cross. However, a wonder strike from Kim Do-Heon brought the Koreans level two minutes before half-time.

Xabi Alonso quickly restored the World and European champions' lead after the break from the penalty spot after Choi Hyo-Jin handled Nacho Monreal's shot and Santi Cazorla's clever free-kick extended their advantage four minutes later.

Vicente del Bosque then made a raft of substitutions and two of the replacements combined for the fourth with 11 minutes remaining as Roberto Soldado's throughball was smashed home by Alvaro Negredo.

Holland suffered two injury scares ahead of Euro 2012 as Wilfred Bouma and Wesley Sneijder were forced off during a 2-0 home victory over Slovakia in Rotterdam.

PSV Eindhoven centre-back Bouma had to be substituted after a collision in the first minute when he and defensive colleague Johnny Heitinga clashed heads. Feyenoord's Ron Vlaar was Bouma's replacement, while Heitinga was comfortable enough to stay on the pitch.

Ibrahim Afellay helped to put Holland in front after seven minutes when the Barcelona forward, who returned to action only last month after a serious knee injury, produced a tricky run along the left and his low cross prompted Slovakia defender Kornel Salata to put the ball into his own goal.

Sneijder suffered an ankle knock in the 51st minute, with Holland boss Bert van Marwijk wanting to take no further risk with such a key player.

Rafael van der Vaart doubled Holland's lead after 75 minutes with a precise low right-footed shot from 15 yards across goalkeeper Jan Mucha and into the left corner.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic scored a fantastic opening goal and set up the second as Sweden held on for a 3-2 victory in their first Euro 2012 warm-up match against Iceland.

The AC Milan striker broke the deadlock in the second minute before teeing up Ola Toivonen 12 minutes later at the Gamla Ullevi in Gothenburg.

Kolbeinn Sigthorsson narrowed the deficit in the 27th minute and although Christian Wilhelmsson restored the two-goal advantage, Hallgrimur Jonasson's stoppage-time strike ensured a nervy finale.

Source : http://soccer365.com//news/european_news/general/17485/torres_sparks_spain__holland_scare

Torres to stay at Stamford Bridge

Fernando Torres will stay at Chelsea following talks with owner Roman Abramovich, whom he says has total confidence in him.

The Spaniard’s future was in doubt ahead of the meeting, with the striker unhappy at his treatment at the London club, but he is now likely to lead the Blues’ attack next season.

“I had a conversation with (Abramovich) and he trusts me,” Torres told BBC Sport.

“His confidence is total and that is what I needed to keep fighting.

“I would have liked to have played more for my club but the important thing is that everything works out in the end.”

Torres formed an important part of Chelsea’s Champions League-winning team, impressing at Camp Nou against Barcelona by scoring in injury time to seal a 3-2 aggregate semi-final win.

He has struggled to play a regular part in the side, however, due to the form of Didier Drogba, who recently announced that he would be leaving the club this summer.

After admitting that he had been through ‘some of the worst moments’ of his career last season, Torres will be now focused on the upcoming Euro 2012, having been included in the Spanish squad.

Source : http://www.soccernews.com/torres-to-stay-at-stamford-bridge/95415/