Spain v Italy: SPAIN ARE hoping to see glimpses of the Fernando Torres that has taken the English Premier League by storm when they meet the Republic of Ireland's World Cup qualifying opponents Italy in Elche tonight.
The 24-year-old has chalked up 27 goals since moving from Atletico Madrid to Liverpool last July but he has yet to show the same effectiveness in front of goal in the red shirt of Spain.
However, Italy captain Fabio Cannavaro believes Torres has become a better player since moving to England. The Real Madrid defender said: "Last year I saw him as a bit of a softie . . . but then he went to the Premier League, where you can't be a softie, and exploded."
As well as Torres, Spanish eyes will also be on his club colleague Alvaro Arbeloa, Getafe midfielder Ruben de la Red and Real Mallorca defender Fernando Navarro, all of whom could win their first caps tonight. Valencia defender Carlos Marchena is a doubt after suffering a blow to the head against Real Madrid on Sunday.
The Italy squad is dominated by players from AS Roma (Christian Panucci, Alberto Aquilani, Daniele De Rossi, Simone Perrotta) and AC Milan (Massimo Ambrosini, Massimo Oddo, Gennaro Gattuso, Andrea Pirlo). Inter Milan's Marco Materazzi should get his first run out since injuring his thigh playing in a 3-1 defeat by Hungary in an August friendly.
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