Welcome back, El Nino

PICTURE: AFP

Earlier this year, Fernando Torres was not even in national coach Vicente del Bosque's plans.

You can only imagine how good he felt in Gdansk this morning (Singapore time), as the scorer of two excellent goals in an emphatic 4-0 victory over the Republic of Ireland.

This was the Torres of old, the one whom weary commentators and pundits had insisted still lurked somewhere in that shuffling husk of a man.

For all the talk of bringing Radamel Falcao to Chelsea, Torres really is the man that the Blues should build a new team around.

Fit, motivated and in form, there is still no better natural striker in Europe. It’s just been rather difficult to believe that since 2010.