Germany vs Spain – Fabregas and Torres vie for starting role


Spain coach Vicente del Bosque will have to choose between Cesc Fabregas and Fernando Torres to face Germany in tonight’s World Cup semi-final.

Fabregas has been declared fit following a knock in training, leaving Del Bosque to decide whether to stick with Liverpool striker Torres, yet to score in this World Cup, or give Fabregas his first start.

The 23-year-old Arsenal midfielder had put himself in the frame after Spain improved dramatically in the quarter-final against Paraguay when he replaced Torres.

Spain managed 15 shots against Paraguay with 11 of these – and the four on-target efforts – coming in the 34 minutes after Fabregas came on. He is 12/1 to score first tonight.

Fabregas’s slight fitness doubt may just persuade Del Bosque to keep faith with Torres, the man whose goal against the same opponents in the final of Euro 2008 gave Spain their greatest success so far. A repeat 1-0 win for Spain tonight is available at 5/1.

Despite failing to find the net in his five outings in South Africa to date, Torres is 6/1 to open the scoring against Germany.

Spain have never before reached the semi-finals of the World Cup, although they did make a final group of four in 1950 which eventually determined the winner.

They are 13/8 to mark their first their first semi-final appearance with a win against Germany, and one of Fabregas or Torres will be crucial to such hopes.

Will Germany be the latest team to frustrate Torres? Joachim Low’s side are 13/8 to win. See the full Germany vs Spain market.