Spain will play in their second World Cup final on Sunday, and will do so once again with a Liverpool player in their squad.
La Roja’s first final – which they won 1-0 against the Netherlands in 2010 – saw two Reds lift the trophy, as Fernando Torres and Pepe Reina became world champions.
Victor Munoz will get the chance to emulate Torres and Reina against Argentina in New Jersey, and if he and his teammates win, the new Liverpool signing could win some fans on Merseyside by copying Torres, who draped himself in a Reds scarf while celebrating 16 years ago.
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Torres celebrated World Cup win with a Liverpool scarf
Rewind to the summer of 2010 and Torres had just come off a slightly tricky, injury-hit season with Liverpool in which he only managed 22 Premier League appearances.
18 goals in those appearances was still a brilliant return from the Spaniard, though, and he deservedly earned his place in Spain’s squad, coming off the bench during extra time in the final.
Back home in Liverpool, though, things were not quite right, and after the Reds sold Javier Mascherano late into the summer window, Torres became disillusioned, ultimately leaving Anfield in a hugely controversial move to Chelsea the following January.
Heading into the World Cup, Torres’ agent had insisted that his client was happy on Merseyside, confirming that he would remain at the club into the 2010/11 season
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“For the moment I can assure fans that Fernando will continue at Liverpool next season,” Jose Antonio Petun said in May 2010. “Everything is down to Liverpool’s attitude but, for the time being, Fernando is happy at the club and has a good contract.
“Liverpool have not spoken to us about his future, so he is just concentrating on playing at the World Cup.”
Torres did not sound so sure, stating: “I didn’t read anything [about his agent’s comments]. My future is the World Cup and after we will see. But my future now and hopefully for the next two months is Spain and the World Cup.”
Despite the uncertainty over whether he would stay at Liverpool, however, by July, Torres was still very much a Red. He displayed that without any doubt when returning to the Spain changing room at Soccer City Stadium in Johannesburg.
The then 26-year-old made sure his allegiances were clear, looking straight into the camera while posing with the World Cup and a Liverpool scarf.
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This gave supporters what would end up being false hope that he had every intention of staying and becoming a legend with the Reds. Though he kept his agent’s promise of going into the new season at Liverpool, he did not end it with them.
Nevertheless, that Torres thought of Liverpool in what was the best moment of his career, underlined the love he has for the club and its fans.
His gripe always felt to be with the ownership of the Reds – which was a mess at the time – who he felt had broken promises made to him, and also shown a complete lack of ambition in squad planning.
Since his exit, Torres has been at pains to stress how much Liverpool means to him, that he regrets the way his departure played out, and that he will always be a fan of the Reds.
Though he was six months away from leaving, he proved that in the clearest terms on a glorious night in South Africa. So, whenever Liverpool fans accuse Torres of selling them out or betraying them, remember this image. He loved – and still loves – Liverpool, frustration and anger over the way he left should be directed elsewhere.
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