Fernando got injured yesterday...and he was in tears when he got off the pitch....so poor, because he looked so forward of playing against atletico, his home club...
Round up: Torres injury is a headache for Liverpool as Modric gets off the mark
By Sportsmail Reporter
Last updated at 11:36 AM on 16th October 2008
Liverpool's Fernando Torres lasted less than 16 minutes of Spain’s 2-1 World Cup qualifying win over Belgium in Brussels last night after pulling up with a muscle strain.
The striker was replaced by Arsenal’s Cesc Fabregas after reporting a problem in his left leg which will cause concern for club manager Rafael Benitez.
Spain team doctor Oscar Celada said: ‘He has intense pain in the back part of the thigh. It could be a strain or a small tear. If it is a strain then he could be out for about a week.’
The injury will be a major blow to club manager Rafa Benitez with Liverpool facing Wigan, on Saturday, Atletico Madrid in the Champions League on Wednesday and Chelsea the following Sunday.
Torres started well enough for Spain, firing a 35-yard shot inside the opening two minutes, but he went off with the European Champions trailing to Wesley Sonck’s opener and left it to Andres Iniesta and David Villa to score Spain’s goals.
In the other match in England’s Group Six, Tottenham’s Luka Modric scored his first goal of the season as he escaped his club’s problems to get the third goal in Croatia’s 4-0 win against Andorra.
However, his confidence will not be fully restored after having a first-half penalty miss in the other match in England’s group.
Arsenal’s Robin van Persie returned for Holland after a hamstring problem as they beat Norway 1-0 in Oslo thanks to a 64th-minute Mark van Bommel volley to give
them maximum points in Group Nine, which contains Scotland.
Russia made life tough for Wales in Group Four with a 3-0 win against Finland, who scored an own goal in each half before former Spurs target Andrei Arshavin beat two defenders and Bolton goalkeeper Jussi Jaaskelainen from a tight angle late on.
France have told Raymond Domenech his job as coach is safe.
France did not play on Wednesday but his position has been in doubt since their flop at Euro 2008.
