Player injuries worry Spain’s Del Bosque

Spain coach Vicente Del Bosque is concerned by the injuries plaguing several key Spanish internationals like Liverpool striker Fernando Torres ahead of the World Cup in South Africa.

“We are worried because it is something that he cannot control,” he said in comments published on Wednesday in sports daily Marca.

Liverpool’s new medical chief Peter Brukner said on Tuesday that Torres, who is recovering from a second operation in three months to repair damage to his right knee, may not be fit in time for Spain’s opening World Cup clash with Switzerland on June 16.

Fellow current walking wounded include Arsenal midfielder Cesc Fabregas, Barcelona playmaker Andres Iniesta and Brazil-born Villarreal holding midfielder Marcos Senna.

Del Bosque said “expectations were good” that the players would recover in time for the June 11-July 11 World Cup.

He also said he was confident that Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola would not put midfielder Xavi Hernandez, who has been playing with a tear in a leg muscle, “at risk”.

Del Bosque is scheduled to announce his 23-man World Cup squad on May 20 before the group heads to Austria for a training camp ahead of the start of the tournament.

Spain, one of the favourites to take the trophy, face Chile and Honduras in addition to Switzerland in Group H of the opening round.

The Spanish national team holds the distinction of being the only side to ever be ranked number one in the FIFA standings without winning a World Cup. Their best placing remains fourth place in 1950.