Spain will be back to win World Cup, says Fernando Torres
Spain did not need the loss as a wake-up call or to motivate the players, he said, but the match served as a reminder of how hard it will be to beat Brazil on their own soil next year, Torres said. Spain have won an unprecedented three major tournaments in a row with two European titles and the World Cup, he added.
Spain will be back next year to win the World Cup after falling into "disarray" as they were vanquished 3-0 by Brazil in Rio de Janeiro, striker Fernando Torres says.
"You can't win every time," the 29-year-old Chelsea forward and Spain international said in a post-match interview published Monday on FIFA's web site.
Torres described the defeat as a "blip against a team that played better than us" and said the loss would not change Spain's approach in the future.
Spain did not need the loss as a wake-up call or to motivate the players, he said, but the match served as a reminder of how hard it will be to beat Brazil on their own soil next year, he said.
"That said, in one year's time we will be back here as world champions to defend what's ours," Torres said.
Spain have won an unprecedented three major tournaments in a row with two European titles and the World Cup, he added.
"Next year we're coming over here to make it four."
Brazil's Fred sent his team to a 1-0 lead at the Maracana Stadium after only two minutes, a goal Torres described as key to the match.
"We did not know whether to push forwards or hang back; we were in a bit of disarray," he admitted.
Brazil then went 2-0 just before half time with an unstoppable left-footer by Neymar. Two minutes after the restart Fred made it 3-0 with a low drive.
"Things got worse, as we then missed a penalty and had a man sent off. It was one of those days when nothing goes your way, right from the start," Torres said.
Asked if he'll be hoping for revenge next year, the striker said: "Football is great for that, because you always get another chance. One year from now, hopefully we'll be here and have a chance to make up for today, not necessarily to gain revenge on Brazil, but for our own sake."
Spain's two biggest sports dailies Marca and AS both ran front-page headlines looking forward to a better performance at the 2014 World Cup, declaring: "We will be back."
"We have a year to find out if this team has further to go or if it already needs a shake-up," AS football analyst Alfredo Relano wrote, noting that a World Cup gives teams more time to prepare.
"It just remains to congratulate Brazil and start to prepare right now, calmly, for the World Cup within a year," he said.