What about Llorente? There's no justification for not playing him. Tall, athletic, strong, good technique. Played outstanding qualification and season.
He'll be the Substitute for Torres in this game and I think for Del Bosque it's about showing a little confidence in a struggling Torres (he's been on this team for 6+years now). I expect Llorente to start if Torres has an awful game today.
he played well in the 20ish minutes he got in the first game. he's a talented player, he just hasn't been in very good form. i think he'll be doing some damage against ireland today
Del Bosque has the worlds longest leash, then. It's not like Torres started playing poorly just recently. It's been a couple of years now with little to no sign of pulling out of it.
This Barca's style of play, especially on offense, needs a striker with a better movement and lateral quickness than Llorente. He's too slow for the system and he can't move to the either wing, right or left on several possessions. That's why Zlatan was so horrible there, in Barcelona, despite being a really really great player. Villa came to the lockerroom and here we go...
Beautiful strike by Torres. Goalie didn't know what hit him... wasn't even ready. I'm expecting 3-1 for La Madre Patria.
