We’re our own worst enemy, admits Spanish star Torres

SPAIN forward Fernando Torres has claimed that the biggest threat to the European champions’ hopes of taking the world title is Spain themselves.

The team goes into the World Cup as second-favourites behind Brazil but having only lost one game in their last three years, Torres fears that complacency could cost them dear.

The Liverpool striker suggested that was the reason behind the team’s elimination at the 2006 World Cup when, against France in the second round, they did not take their opponents seriously because the French had played poorly in the group stages. But after losing 3-1, the team developed a siege mentality and went on to sweep all before them at Euro 2008.

“The biggest threat for us is off the field without a doubt. Our biggest enemy is being too relaxed, we are our own biggest enemy,” said Torres in an interview with French TV station Canal Plus.

“France taught us a big lesson in 2006. Without deserving it, back in Spain we gave ourselves the title of favourites for that match, and we saw France as a beaten team even though they should have been favourites as they had players of a superior level. But because Zinedine Zidane was close to retirement, and they hadn’t played well in group games, we thought we would get through.

“In that match they showed us why there were better than us: they had the experience of winning titles, they knew what big competition was all about.

“They were not afraid of being in the last 16. They didn’t feel the pressure. They played their game the way they knew how, and they were all over us.

“They had been playing together for a long time and despite all the criticism, they won when they needed to, just like all great teams.

It was after the defeat to France that we began to build a block, a style, an identity. Thanks to [coach] Luis Aragones and despite all the criticism which rained down on us, that was the turning-point.

“Now we are a team which knows how to win just like France did in 2006, but we also know what it is to lose to an inferior team,” he said.

The memory of his last appearance in a major final, when he scored the winning goal against Germany in Euro 2008, has been a source of motivation during his rehab. “I’ve watched that goal many times, watching images again helps me remember it all,” he said.

“I had one of Xavi’s great passes, the defender thought he was too sure to get it and if he had allowed himself to go to ground, I’m sure the ref would have blown for a foul against the striker. But Lahm is an honest player and he played on. Lehmann wasn’t quick enough, I kept going, and I could see I was going to get there first: I toe-poked it and when the ball goes in it was an amazing feeling.”

Torres is hoping he will get another chance to achieve something similar in South Africa – but there is a long way to go before then.