Bad news
Torres injury hits Atletico's - and Spain's Euro hopes
First Published: May 29, 2007
Atletico Madrid's hopes of bagging a UEFA Cup place were dented on Tuesday with the news that star striker Fernando Torres, seen here 20 May 2007, had to pull out of training with the Spanish national squad with ankle ligament trouble.
Atletico Madrid's hopes of bagging a UEFA Cup place were dented on Tuesday with the news that star striker Fernando Torres had to pull out of training with the Spanish national squad with ankle ligament trouble.
Spanish team doctor Genaro Borras said Torres suffered the injury after a tussle with Real Madrid defender Sergio Ramos and "he could be out for 10 to 15 days, though we'll have to run some tests on him. I can't be sure until then."
Spain have upcoming internationals with Lithuania and Liechtenstein but for Atletico the wait for news will be no less anguished as they try to overhaul Real Zaragoza and Villarreal, three and one point ahead of them, to finish in the top five and guarantee European football next season.
Luis Aragones' Spanish international squad, struggling to find their best form, have Euro 2008 qualifiers against the Lithuanians on June 2 and Liechtenstein on June 6 and are already without Fernando Morientes of Valencia after his recent groin problems.
With his injury problems mounting Aragones may turn to Osasuna's former Real Madrid fringe player Roberto Soldado, a new face in the squad.
The Spanish are currently only third in their Group F behind pace-setters Northern Ireland and Sweden with Denmark breathing down their necks.
First Published: May 29, 2007
Atletico Madrid's hopes of bagging a UEFA Cup place were dented on Tuesday with the news that star striker Fernando Torres, seen here 20 May 2007, had to pull out of training with the Spanish national squad with ankle ligament trouble.
Atletico Madrid's hopes of bagging a UEFA Cup place were dented on Tuesday with the news that star striker Fernando Torres had to pull out of training with the Spanish national squad with ankle ligament trouble.
Spanish team doctor Genaro Borras said Torres suffered the injury after a tussle with Real Madrid defender Sergio Ramos and "he could be out for 10 to 15 days, though we'll have to run some tests on him. I can't be sure until then."
Spain have upcoming internationals with Lithuania and Liechtenstein but for Atletico the wait for news will be no less anguished as they try to overhaul Real Zaragoza and Villarreal, three and one point ahead of them, to finish in the top five and guarantee European football next season.
Luis Aragones' Spanish international squad, struggling to find their best form, have Euro 2008 qualifiers against the Lithuanians on June 2 and Liechtenstein on June 6 and are already without Fernando Morientes of Valencia after his recent groin problems.
With his injury problems mounting Aragones may turn to Osasuna's former Real Madrid fringe player Roberto Soldado, a new face in the squad.
The Spanish are currently only third in their Group F behind pace-setters Northern Ireland and Sweden with Denmark breathing down their necks.