Soccer: Torres in doubt for World Cup opener

LIVERPOOL - Liverpool said today that striker Fernando Torres may miss Spain's first World Cup game because of his right knee operation.

One of the club's medical experts, Peter Brukner, said that Torres was recovering but it was uncertain if he would be fit for Spain's first game at the World Cup against Switzerland on June 16.

"He's doing well and he's certainly tremendously committed to his rehab, as are the staff here, and if anyone can recover from an injury, he can," said Brukner, who will be working for Australia's World Cup team in South Africa. "You can't be absolutely certain of anything but at this stage, if he continues to progress the way he is, he should be fit to play at some stage during the World Cup. Whether he'll be fit for the first game or not is uncertain."

Brukner said Liverpool did not want to hurry Torres' progress because of the long-term benefit of having the striker back fully fit for next season.

"We're anxious not to hurry him along too much because we want the long-term benefit, but we're aware he's got the short-term goal of playing in the World Cup," Brukner said. "Hopefully we can get a compromise between those two where he plays in the World Cup and he's fit and well for Liverpool next season."

- AP