Morientes to miss Serbia-Montenegro clash

Madrid:

Spain striker Fernando Morientes injured his left thigh in training Tuesday and will miss the crucial World Cup qualifier against Serbia-Montenegro. Morientes was expected to start Wednesday's Group 7 game at the Vicente Calderon stadium after scoring his first international goal for a year last Saturday in Spain's 2-1 friendly victory over Canada. Atletico Madrid's Fernando Torres will replace the Liverpool striker, who has scored 25 goals in 40 international appearances, said the website of leading sports daily Marca . Spain needs to beat Serbia-Montenegro to boost its hopes of a direct berth into next year's finals in Germany. Serbia-Montengero leads with 15 points from seven games, while Spain has 13. (AP)