Torres aiming to join Spain’s World Cup team

Spain striker Fernando Torres says he can make the World Cup squad and help his country defend its title in Brazil. (Kirsty Wigglesworth/AP)

MADRID, Spain — Spain striker Fernando Torres says he can make the World Cup squad and help his country defend its title in Brazil.

Torres tells Spanish daily AS “in football you never know where you will be inside one month. I’m going to work hard, that’s all you can do with this last part of the season so important. Those in the best form before the World Cup will go.”

The Chelsea striker was dropped from Spain’s team for a recent friendly against Italy with Brazilian-born striker Diego Costa taking his place. Alvaro Negredo is also ahead of him in the pecking order.

Torres, who turned 30 on Thursday, helped Spain win back-to-back European Championships and the last World Cup.

When submitting content, please abide by our submission guidelines, and avoid posting profanity, personal attacks or harassment. Should you violate our submissions guidelines, we reserve the right to remove your comments and block your account. Sportsnet reserves the right to close a story’s comment section at any time.