Torres: An Intimate Portrait of the Kid Who Became King

final because ‘the lads have talent, class and self-discipline’. The match takes place on 28 July in Oslo’s Ullevaal Stadium in front of a sold-out crowd, 16,000-strong.
    This was what the Spanish newspaper
El Mundo
had to say the day after the encounter: ‘Germany had to face the facts and admit defeat when confronted with the generation of Fernando Torres, icon and beacon of the Spanish side, the star emerging from his shell, who intimidates his opponents and achieves success every time he plays. He was top-scorer in the European Under-16 championship-winning side and a year later repeated the trick with the Under-19s. He already looks mature enough to forget playing with the kids and take on the challenges of the grown-ups.’
    Another newspaper,
ABC
, had the headline: ‘Torres runs riot against Germany’ and wrote ‘Crone and Volz (two of the German defenders) couldn’t avoid him. They were met by El Niño in every Spanish attack and couldn’t catch him. Fernando had already destroyed them in the first minute. He got himself in front of Haas and shot wide after running six metres held by Fathi, who gave away a penalty, which referee Ceferen did not give. From that moment on, Fathi didn’t want to know about Torres. Torres, though, definitely did want to know all about being crowned Under-19 champions and had another penalty shout – Crone tackled him as he entered the penalty area – but the referee didn’t agree with that one either. Third time lucky. The crafty Reyes took a quick free-kick and the Atlético Madrid player took the opportunity once more to escape the weak opposition defence and shoot, forcing Haas into the first of a series of impressive saves and in turn making himself Spain’s principal problem.’
    But in the 55th minute, even Haas had to admit he was beaten: ‘It was a very similar move to that which won Euro 2008 for the national side also, as it happens, against Germany,’ recalled Iñaki Sáez, ‘Reyes, in our half of the pitch, passes to Iniesta almost on the halfway line. Andrés sees Torres and makes one of his trademark deep passes. Fernando wins the race for the ball with Crone and has just the German keeper to beat but fluffs the shot. The ball goes loose. Crone and Haas look at each other and don’t react. Torres sticks out his boot and nicks the goal. He knew how to keep going until the end. He knew how to keep on fighting until the end. That goal, exactly like the one last year against Germany, perfectly demonstrates his style,’ explained Saéz, ‘a striker who finishes the move with speed, force and intelligence.’
    ‘Torres … y Reyes’ read the red and black front page of Spanish sport daily,
Marca,
the next day, the first of many with El Niño centre stage (the headline played on the name
Reyes
, which also means ‘Kings’. The headline could therefore be read: ‘Torres … and we are Kings’). But Fernando, although excited by the two titles already won, doesn’t let it all go to his head and is already thinking of the next Under-20 World Cup. He’s hungry for victory. And this is how he responds to the praise he receives from Stielike after the match: ‘It’s always good to receive praise from one of the best managers in Europe but I still have to work on my game and improve so that this doesn’t turn into criticism.’
    Another example of the young man’s desire, commitment and determination.

Chapter 10
A special dedication
     
    Conversation with Barcelona and Spain midfielder, Andrés Iniesta
    An injury is keeping him out of the Barcelona team ahead of the final of Spain’s Copa del Rey (King’s Cup) against Atlético Bilbao. His side relies on the ‘hero of Stamford Bridge’ (where he scored the winning goal in stoppage time against Chelsea in the Champions League semi-final) because of his qualities as a ‘total footballer’. He can play in midfield or on the wing. His dribbling skills and vision of the game have made him a key player. But this time Iniesta will not be there. It will be several days before the Barcelona midfielder can run out onto a pitch again, but he is expecting to be fit for Rome in the Champions League final against Manchester United. Instead, he’s here at the Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper (a complex situated about 3 miles from Barcelona’s Camp Nou stadium, which hosts training sessions from junior teams as well as the Barça first team) in the hands of the physiotherapists. The treatment is taking a