Results tagged “spain” from Liverpool Banter - Join the debate with LFC fans, staff writers and club legends

RAFA BENITEZ today welcomed the return of his triumphant Euro 2008 Spanish quartet to Melwood and backed them to spread their winning mentality throughout the rest of the Liverpool squad.

Fernando Torres, Pepe Reina, Xabi Alonso and Alvaro Arbeloa all arrived back at the Reds training ground this morning having been allowed to return after the rest of their Liverpool team mates because of their extended involvement in the European Championships.

Benitez is delighted to have them back, particularly as it gives him the opportunity to work with the squad which will start the new campaign for the first time since pre-season training began on July 1.

ENGLAND'S absence from Euro 2008 may have caused considerable consternation in households up and down the country, but it's doubtful whether those in Merseyside were among them.

Instead of being caught up in the usual national debate as to why our players don't reproduce their club form in an England shirt, whether Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard can play in the same side (as if we're bothered) and whatever happened to our left wingers, we've been able instead to bask in the reflected glory of a successful campaign featuring four of our number picking up winner's medals in a red shirt.

Not for us the hair shirt of another disappointing performance crowned by a failed penalty shoot-out; we're out on the streets of Madrid, hailing another trophy win courtesy of a Fernando Torres super-strike

* WATCH brilliant video footage of Fernando Torres in action for Atletico Madrid juniors here

GRABBING the winner in the final against Germany was obviously a great way for Fernando Torres to end the Euro 2008 tournament and I reckon that he was probably the only player on the pitch capable of scoring that goal.

We're all well aware now that Torres is a special player and when you look at where he was and the fact that Jens Lehmann was hurtling towards him, he did incredibly well to get his goal.

With that little bit of pace and little bit of power he was able to get the better of the German goalkeeper and secure Spain's first silverware in 44 years.

XABI ALONSO has promised the "best is yet to come" after helping Spain reach the final of a major tournament for the first time since 1984.

Luis Aragones' side swept past Russia 3-0 in Vienna on Thursday thanks to a blistering second half display which resulted in goals from Xavi, Daniel Guiza and David Silva.

Next up is a meeting with Germany as Spain chase their first title since they won the European crown in 1964

Story by Mike Perez

SPAIN'S penalty shoot-out victory over Italy on Sunday night which enabled them to reach the semi-finals of Euro 2008 was the stuff of legend, according to striker Fernando Torres.

Spain had gone into the clash in Vienna on a nine-match winning streak and unbeaten in 19 games overall, but history and fate appeared to be against them due to some notable statistics down the years.

Spain had not triumphed over Italy in a competitive match since 1920, while Spanish teams had only managed to progress beyond the last eight of a major tournament on three occasions in their history

SO FAR in Euro 2008, Anfield interest in the Spanish team's fortunes have been centred around Fernando Torres.

Liverpool's top scorer has made a goal, scored a goal, been substituted prematurely, denied falling out with his coach and denied that he's about to join Chelsea for a world record fee.

However, with Luis Aragones's side having already won Group D, 'El Nino' and most of his fellow regulars in the side were given the night off ahead of their quarter-finals showdown with world champions Italy.

SPAIN striker Fernando Torres has rubbished talk of a rift between himself and coach Luis Aragones.

The Liverpool frontman was reportedly unhappy at being substituted after only 54 minutes of Spain's 4-1 victory over Russia in their opening game in Group D.

But Torres insisted ahead of the clash with Sweden on Saturday he remains on good terms with Aragones

SO how much did that hat-trick against the Russkis add on to David Villa's transfer value?

Forget for a moment that LFC at this time can probably barely afford 55-year-old Ricky Villa and dare to dream about the 26-year-old Valencia linking up with 'Our Nando' in the scarlet red of Liverpool.

Real touch of class from the hat-trick hero when he sought the subbed Torres out on the bench after bagging his third and he even 'dedicated' his treble to his strike partner after the game.

WHEN Spain boss Luis Aragones named his squad for the forthcoming European Championships he mentioned the name of one club more than any other - and it wasn't Real Madrid or Barcelona.

Aragones selected four Liverpool players for Euro 2008, a figure which even La Liga's finest could not match, as Spain's love affair with Merseyside, which began with Rafa Benitez's arrival four years ago, continued.

Given their Liverpool connections it was inevitable that Fernando Torres, Xabi Alonso, Pepe Reina and Alvaro Arbeloa would be christened "The Fab Four" in sections of the Spanish press who have grown increasingly accustomed to having an Anfield influence in their national team.