Spain shrug off new Torres injury worry

Pretoria: Spain striker Fernando Torres was replaced after 60 minutes of the 2-1 World Cup win over Chile,

but the European champions insisted that the Liverpool star had not suffered a recurrence of his knee injury. The 26-year-old was the victim of a pair of crunching first-half fouls, most notably in the 37th minute when he was clipped on the heel by midfielder Marco Estrada and fell hard to the ground in the build-up to the second goal last night. The Chilean was red-carded by Mexican referee Marco Rodriguez. Spain coach Vicente del Bosque said he replaced Torres as a precaution after the English Premier League star felt a twinge at half-time. "He felt a spot of muscular bother, nothing to do with his knee injury," del Bosque said. Torres`s fitness was under the microscope before the World Cup following a second operation in three months to repair damage in his right knee. He has yet to score at the World Cup although David Villa`s three goals have helped Spain into the last 16 where they face Portugal in Cape Town on Tuesday. Bureau Report