España's Starting striker

Heard it's between Negredo and Fernando Torres with Negredo being the favourite *shudders*.

How come Fernando Llorente isn't being considered? He had the best individual season out of all three (four if you include Soldado).

Torres should start imo.

The mere fact Llorente isnt even being considered and Soldado wasnt even called up among other tells you how much of a joke VDB has become and is clearly sinking into the Lippi Syndrome.

How its not Llorente is beyond me...crazy.

This, the lack of Villa (game time or not, look at Affelay), the continous double pivot, the insistence of Barca and Madrid players regardless of better options....Del Bosque is going full retard.

I think he wants Navas and LLorente to be on at the same time, not that I'm excusing it.....

The Franchise wrote:.Del Bosque is going full retard.

Uh oh. Everybody knows you never go full retard.

Torres is starting the match, Del Bosque is very predictable this will be his lineup against Italy.

Casillas
Arbeloa - Ramos - Pique - Alba
Busquets - Alonso
Silva - Xavi - Iniesta
Torres

In the second half if the side is not leading, his subs will be Carzola/Pedro ---> Alonso/Busquets, Fabregas/Mata ----> Xavi and Negredo/ Llorente for Torres

Torres!!!!!!!

even in form strikers are finding it quite hard to score so far in the competition, rvp, co.....

I fear for spain

Actually, in Spanish media Torres is the favourite at the moment.

But VDB explained why he prefers Negrado over both Llorente and Soldado - his goalscoring record with the national team is fantastic and he feels like Negrado will assure him that he can score, becouse he has shown it before with the team.

It doesn't sound so stupid when you hear what he got to say, but I do agree that Llorente is the best striker out of them all. And please VDB don't start Torres....

If he prefers Negredo over LLorente god help us all.

Spoiler:

So many to choose from tbh and maybe VDB wants to keep Torres 'spirits' high and get him the start. I reckon he will do well despite the critics. The more you think he will do bad then he will be bad

Gil wrote:

The Franchise wrote:.Del Bosque is going full retard.

Uh oh. Everybody knows you never go full retard.

Quality reference.

Fact Torres even made the squad is retarded. It should of been Soldado and Adrian over Torres and Negredo.

Soldado has been very average since January, he was shockingly poor in the friendlies he played in just before the Euros. And he's very overrated, the best bet would have been Adrian for either Pedro or Negredo, who had pretty average seasons themselves, but VDB went for his favourites, let's see how it pans out.

soldado was injured since late march, and he's been getting absolutely no service since canales and then banega got injured... and still finished the season with as many goals as llorente

average... jesus christ

Soldado has been crap for second half of the season so when you take form into consideration he misses out to Negredo who has the best scoring ratio with Spain in qualifiers.

Torres inclusion is laughable but i hope for the sake of espana he come back to form. Torres is starting tonight.

Oh well, he will rarely get the start so he knows that he need to impress to keep his spot on the team.

Llorente , 27 goals all season for Bilbao
Torres, 6 goals for Champions League winners Chelsea.

Please do not choose Torres!

As.com users have chosen, for most, Fernando Torres as part of the eleven who expect Spain to align this afternoon against Italy at Euro debut. The survey takes several days shows up preferences fondness for Fuenlabrada front ahead of Llorente and Negredo.

The Chelsea striker has obtained 25,546 votes, well ahead of Fernando Llorente (14 521) and Alvaro Negredo (3795), the other two strikers born in Red. In fact, after Juan Mata Torres stands as a favorite to accompany Silva and Iniesta in the trio of attack.

In the rest of the eleven there are no surprises. In goal undisputed Iker Casillas (2,235 of 41,281 votes by Victor Valdes and 361 for Pepe Reina). In defending the couple Piqué-Ramos in the center also raises questions. On the sides are favorites Jordi Alba and Arbeloa. Javi Martinez and Juanfran, a little further, also have a significant number of votes.

In midfield Xabi Alonso and Xavi Hernandez sweep, like Sergio Busquets, who accompany them on the defensive midfielder. Ahead Andres Iniesta Iniesta is the player who has received more votes (42,745). Triplet form, as we said before, with David Silva and Fernando Torres.

Torres has been improving towards the end of the season though its obvious. Truth is Torres is also the most rounded out of the strikers, he has the pace which the other 2 hasnt, a bigg difference, his coverage and link up play when on form is good. If Torres continues to find his form in this comp he will surprise many... obviously it will be up to him to see if he does it.... Negredo over Soldado was a wtf though.... although who knows, maybe he can be a surprise also...

It's Cesc... lol

Cesc is only for this game though. Because Italy plays a 5 men midfield and spain want to match it with a striker less formation.

Cesc

hahahah oh *bleep* me

del bosque might as well start wearing barcelona shirts to work

Barcelona Possession 65 % to Italy's 25 %. italy wins 1-0