Fernando Torres believes that this Spain team will be talked about for years to come if they beat Germany on Wednesday - the only doubt is whether the Liverpool striker will start the match.
Torres has been in the starting XI for all of Spain's games bar the 1-0 defeat to Switzerland. Since then the 26-year-old, who arrived in South Africa short of fitness following a knee operation in April, has been chosen to start by coach Vicente Del Bosque - but the question is whether he has done enough to start in Wednesday’s semi-final in Durban.
Torres said: "No player is assured of a place in the starting XI. A player has to give 100% in his fight for a place in the team."
Years | Winners | Runner-up | Third place |
2006 | Italy | France | Germany |
2002 | Brazil | Germany | Turkey |
1998 | France | Brazil | Croatia |
1994 | Brazil | Italy | Sweden |
1990 | Germany | Argentina | Italy |
1986 | Argentina | Germany | France |
1982 | Italy | Germany | Poland |
1978 | Argentina | Holland | Brazil |
1974 | Germany | Holland | Poland |
1970 | Brazil | Italy | Germany |
1966 | England | Germany | Portugal |
1962 | Brazil | Czech | Chile |
1958 | Brazil | Sweden | France |
1954 | Germany | Hungary | Austria |
1950 | Uruguay | Brazil | Sweden |
1938 | Italy | Hungary | Brazil |
1934 | Italy | Czech | Germany |
1930 | Uruguay | Argentina | America |