Soccer: Boyens mission to tame world star Torres

RUSTENBURG - There are more similarities between Fernando Torres and Andy Boyens than might seem immediately apparent.

Both are tall and skinny, for one thing, and 25, and both have had fledging acting careers.

Torres appeared in a music video by Spanish rock group Canto del Loco and also made a cameo in the 2005 film Torrente 3: El Protector.

A much younger Boyens was the fresh-faced "star" in a promotional advertisement appealing for people to visit Napier.

"Napier, for the time of your life," it said.

"I didn't have any lines," Boyens laughs. "I just had to gaze out across Napier."

Tomorrow morning (NZT), the All Whites defender will have a view of a different kind. What he will see, probably standing right beside him, will be one of the most lethal and famous strikers in world football.

As much as players like Boyens say, "he's just another player", Torres is not just another player.

He is arguably the best striker in the English Premier League who commands a weekly wage no less than £120,000 ($308,000) a week and has a fortune reportedly in excess of £14 million.

"I think I'm in the negative," the lanky New York Red Bulls defender says of his own finances.

"I would say he earns as much in a week as we do altogether. It's huge money and it's where a lot of the boys are dreaming to be.

"It's funny to think you are going up against a guy who is worth that kind of money, especially as I've been a Liverpool fan since I was a kid. He's world-class and if I get the opportunity to mark him, awesome.

"I might say 'g'day' to him and he might have a few bad words for me if I am a bit slow to a couple of balls.

"I'm looking forward to it and hopefully we have a good bit of banter. I will see how his English is going."

Few have had a chance to find out as El Nino has largely avoided speaking with the international media since touching down in South Africa.

He and his equally-famous team-mates have courted intense interest and are tournament favourites in the eight-team competition.

When Boyens walked onto the training pitch at Moruleng Stadium near Rustenburg, there was generous applause from the 3000 schoolchildren and locals shipped in to watch, but no one knew who he was. He has a chance to change that this week.

There are some in the Republic who, on the evidence of the 4-3 defeat to Italy on Thursday morning, believe they will make the semifinals.

It might be fanciful, especially given New Zealand's record at Confederations Cups and against non-Oceania opposition, but Boyens put on his game face when he said: "You nick a draw against Spain and you go on and win your next two games. That's the best-case scenario. We have to set our goals high.

"We have to go out there with realistic expectations but not get overwhelmed by it all. It's a mountain to climb playing Spain but it's not insurmountable."

Michael Brown travelled to South African courtesy of Emirates, official airline of the 2010 World Cup.

BOYENS VS TORRES

Andy Boyens

Age: 25

Clubs: New York Red Bulls (MLS), Toronto FC (MLS), University of New Mexico, Otago United, Dunedin Technical

Caps: 11

Goals: 0

Personal fortune: In overdraft

Boyens and Ben Sigmund had 10 minutes of international experience between them when they took on Wales in the 2-2 draw in May 2007.

Fernando Torres

Age: 25

Clubs: Liverpool, Atletico Madrid

Caps: 62

Goals: 19

Personal fortune: £14 million

Torres became the youngest player in Spanish history to play 60 internationals in March and also scored the winner in the final of last year's Euro 2008.