Concern in Spain about Torres, Fabregas and Iniesta injuries (Feature)

By Duncan Shaw Apr 19, 2010, 11:34 GMT

Madrid - There is growing concern in Spain about whether Fernando Torres, Cesc Fabregas and Andres Iniesta will be in good physical shape for the World Cup finals.

All three youngsters were important in Spain's Euro 2008 triumph, but there are serious doubts concerning their fitness ahead of the World Cup.

'The national team has been hit by serious injuries ahead of the World Cup, and that is very worrying,' Madrid radio station Cadena COPE said on Monday.

Torres underwent an operation late on Sunday in Barcelona - after a 30-hour road journey due to Europe's air traffic chaos - to remove torn damaged cartilage in his right knee.

It was his second knee surgery within three months, and he will now be out of action for at least six weeks.

Torres will miss Liverpool's remaining Premier League matches, as well as the Europa League semi-final against his former team Atletico Madrid.

Few Spaniards doubt that national manager Vicente del Bosque will take Torres to the World Cup finals. However, there is massive concern about what kind of shape the striker will be in come June.

Radio Marca said on Monday that 'the Torres injury is very worrying ... He is Spain's principal forward, and will arrive in South Africa without any match fitness at all.'

Torres, 26, has been leading the Spain attack since 2005, taking over that responsibility from Raul and Fernando Morientes. He scored three goals at the 2006 World Cup and two at Euro 2008 - including the winner in the Vienna final against Germany.

'The enire attacking strategy,' added Radio Marca on Monday, 'is built around Torres. Without him, Spain will not be so dangerous in attack.'

Torres has formed a devastating partnership with Valencia hitman David Villa, whose fitness is also causing concern because of a persistent shoulder injury.

Spanish media and fans are just as worried about the physical condition of Fabregas as of that of Torres.

Fabregas, 23, broke his right shin playing for Arsenal against Barcelona in the Champions League quarter-finals, and will be out for around the same period of time as Torres.

The Arsenal captain has not been as fundamental for 'La Roja' in recent years as Torres - he only played in the Euro 2008 final because of injury to Villa - but it was expected that he would have an important role in South Africa.

On Monday, Catalan daily Sport said that Fabregas met with Barca president Joan Laporta last week in Casablanca, Morocco, to talk about a possible move to the Camp Nou in summer.

Spain are also sweating on the fitness of little Andres Iniesta, who was important at Euro 2008 by linking midfield and attack in his dynamic, impish way.

Iniesta, 25, will be out for around four weeks after tearing a muscle in his right leg.

He hopes to be fit for the May 22 Champions League final - if Barca get past Inter Milan in the semi-finals - and for the World Cup.

However, his season has been ruined by different muscle injuries and it remains to be seen how fit he really is in South Africa.