Associated Press Sports
updated 9:37 a.m. ET May 29, 2012
PAUL LOGOTHETIS
AP Sports Writer
MADRID (AP) -Fernando Torres is trying to put a season of struggles behind him to focus on Spain's campaign to defend its European Championship title.
The Chelsea striker will look to impress on Wednesday when Spain plays a friendly against South Korea in Switzerland.
Four years ago, Torres scored the winning goal at the Euro 2008 final. This year, he was not assured a spot in Spain's squad until a late season turnaround coupled with all-time leading scorer David Villa's absence to injury.
Torres, who has 88 caps for the World Cup champions, played sparingly for the Blues on their way to win the Champions League and FA Cup this season. Following talks with the Chelsea brass, Torres is optimistic about his future at the club and certain his form will pick up at the start of the European tournament in Poland and Ukraine next month.
"Physically I feel very good and fresh because I haven't had the drain of so many games as my teammates. I'm hopeful of showing my best to the team," Torres said from Spain's training camp in Austria. "It's true I would have liked to have played more with Chelsea to be in better playing shape."
Torres will compete with Fernando Llorente and Alvaro Negredo for the starting striker's spot in the warm up matches against South Korea on Wednesday and China on Sunday. A good performance in the two friendlies will secure him a place in Spain's opening match against Italy June 10.
"You can't stop the debates," Torres ahead of the match Wednesday - his first since November. "I think we are all here on our own merits. I played with the FA Cup and Champions League winners, so I don't think the end of the seasons was so bad."
Torres missed Spain's 2-0 win over Serbia on Sunday. Juan Mata was out too, but both Chelsea players are in Wednesday's lineup.
Missing from the match will be nine internationals from Barcelona and Athletic Bilbao. They will only join the team when they return to Spain after the South Korea match.
Spain eased past Serbia with its usual brand of possession and passing, which will serve them well to beat opponents in the two remaining warm-up matches for the Euro 2012.
Defender Sergio Ramos did not train on Monday during the team's final public practice in Austria which was marked by the pitch invasion by fans.
Spain travels will travel to its tournament base in the Polish city of Gdansk on June 5.
After Italy, they will face Ireland and Croatia in Group C.
? 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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