Spain axe Torres for World Cup semi-final

Fernando Torres paid the price for his failure to find the net in this World Cup by being dropped to the bench for Spain's World Cup semi-final against Germany. Spain coach Vicente del Bosque made just one change from the team that overcame Paraguay in...

Fernando Torres paid the price for his failure to find the net in this World Cup by being dropped to the bench for Spain's World Cup semi-final against Germany.

Spain coach Vicente del Bosque made just one change from the team that overcame Paraguay in the quarter-final, bringing in Barcelona forward Pedro for the Liverpool striker.

Arsenal midfielder Cesc Fabregas had been in the running to start instead of Torres too but his knock in training on Monday may have counted against him.

Germany were without the suspended Thomas Muller - who had scored four goals in five games - and he was replaced by Piotr Trochowski.

The starting line-up for Spain were all at Spanish clubs last season and all the Germany XI played in the Bundesliga.

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