Spain striker David Villa believes team-mate Fernando Torres will soon start firing in the goals.
Spanish frontman backs team-mate to shine
Spain striker David Villa believes team-mate Fernando Torres will soon start firing in the goals.
Torres has not been in top form during the World Cup so far this summer, while Villa has been the man looking sharp in front of goal for the European champions.
The 26-year-old Liverpool man suffered a knee injury at the end of the domestic campaign and the problem appears to have left him out of touch.
But Villa, who recently agreed to move to Barcelona from Valencia, insists Torres will rediscover his form soon and says his performances are benefiting the team.
"First of all I haven't really heard any criticism of Fernando and I certainly don't share a view of his performances being lacklustre," he said.
"Perhaps he hasn't scored a goal but he's done spectacular work. He really is very happy in the squad, he's made an enormous effort to help this team. Let's remember what state he was in with his knee a month ago.
"He is supporting the team with his play, so I'm very thankful to him and I think his performances have been very good.
"He is doing some excellent work, but forwards are always measured by the goals they score and I'm totally convinced that if he continues working as well as he is, he will score goals.
"He had that at the European Championships (in 2008), he scored goals in the later stages although he hadn't scored many at the beginning.
"He's very happy, he's always with us and he's always going to be contributing very positively to the side."
Spain face a mouth-watering clash against Portugal on Tuesday, in the last 16 of the South Africa tournament.