Fernando Torres last night pleaded with Spain boss Vicente Del Bosque to let him start the World Cup final.

The Liverpool striker, hero of Spain’s Euro 2008 victory, fears he will miss the biggest match of his life.

Out of form Torres was dropped for the semi-final and Del Bosque is set to name an unchanged team for tomorrow’s showdown with Holland.

The 26-year-old as been hampered by the knee injury that saw him miss the end of the Premier League campaign.

But he went to see Del Bosque at Spain’s hotel base in Potchefstroom last night, urging him to remember his match-winning contribution to the Euro 2008 Final.

A Spanish source said: “Fernando went to see Del Bosque because he fears he will be left out.

“He told Del Bosque he is desperate to play and that he won’t let him down.

“Of course Fernando accepts it has to be Del Bosque’s decision but he wants to make it as difficult as possible for the coach to leave him out.”

As Del Bosque wrestles with the selection dilemma he claims it is his country’s “destiny” to win the World Cup.

Rafa Nadal, world tennis No 1, added Wimbledon to the French Open title last weekend and Del Bosque said: “Spain is moving forward in every sport and this is what we are supposed to do.

“We are world champions in basketball and motorcyling, through Julian Simon.

“Now it is our destiny to do it in football as well.”

No European champions have gone on to lift the World Cup since West Germany also defeated the Dutch in 1974, when Englishman Jack Taylor was the referee.

And with Premier League whistler Howard Webb in charge tomorrow night, Del Bosque said: “When we beat Germany in the semi-finals, it was not the time to celebrate. That will come after Holland.”