So I'm watching the Italians versus the Spanish in the opening match of Group C at Euro 2012. It's 1-1 with the reigning European and World Champions having just equalized, before Fernando Torres is brought on. After that, I feel suffocated. Not by Torres' clear loss of heart with every failed attempt at a pass, or his loss of hope with every shot that narrowly misses me up here in Row Z. It is by the blatant patronising manner in which everything to do with Fernando Torres is voiced by the commentators. Let's face it, Torres' lack of goals, confidence and mental well-being is no longer a surprise. In fact, its a shock when he scores. It's a shock when he puts a defender on his backside, whilst in my mind I'm always trying to send him a message through wincing eyes: Pass it Torres, before you trip over your self-esteem. He has almost become the loveable screw-up best friend of the main characters that have graced the screens far too many times, with every touch of a football greeted with the inevitable shielding of eyes for fear of oblivion.
However, in this match, the commentators overdid it. Even at the end of the match, when the ever-entertaining Adrian Chiles bubbled up his post-match summary before the dreaded ITV ad-break, his words made my heart sink:
'What is wrong with Fernando Torres?'
That is what is wrong. Torres was on the pitch for 15 minutes at most, hardly enough time to fully get into the swing of things, and had two chances, both of which admittedly could have been tucked away with ease if the likes of Llorente or Soldado were in his position, but both of which left him with quite a bit to do. The first, a through ball which he took in his stride only to find that Gianluigi Buffon was hurtling out and about to send him about ten foot in the air. But Fernando the Brave took him on, with the heart and courage of a lion, ready to slot home the goal that would give his country a priceless opening win. Granted, he failed to do all of the above, and instead made a feeble attempt to circumnavigate the most expensive 'keeper in the world, who, for £32 million, you would expect to get a stopper with at least some foot-eye co-ordination. Did Torres shy away from his next opportunity? No. Finding himself on the edge of the box, with a defender 5 yards either side of him, and an over-committed Buffon almost in the center-circle, Torres sized up his options. He went for the chip. Remember, this is a man who lacks confidence apparently. It was a difficult opportunity, which once again he was unable to capitalize upon, but he is a man showing more intent and desire than the nomad who was chasing his tail at Chelsea some time ago.
I realise that I could have got to my point a lot sooner, but hey, there are too many hours in the day to be precise and too the point.
From way up here in Row Z, thanks for reading.
