Fabregas expects troubled Torres to showcase talents

Cesc Fabregas has no doubt his Spain team-mate Fernando Torres will soon be over his goal drought and is expecting the striker to play a key role in the World Cup quarter-final against Paraguay tonight.

The Liverpool forward has endured a poor campaign so far, failing to hit the back of the net for the European champions in their opening four games.

It came after an injury-hit domestic season for his English club, which him saw head to South Africa in the wake of a knee problem.

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He has so far failed to live up to expectations and Fabregas

said: "This boy is accustomed to this kind of situation.

"He's accustomed to all these situations because he's been under pressure ever since he was a little boy.

"He is very much at ease and I think (tonight) he will have a possibility to showcase his talents to see whether he can take this team to the highest possible ranks."

Paraguay coach Gerardo Martino, whose team have never beaten the European champions, has already made history by taking the South Americans to the last eight for the first time.

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"If I had to consider a tournament of 20 matches against Spain, then I think Paraguay would have fewer possibilities than Spain," he said.

"But you see in this kind of tournament, it's not just who plays better, but who has the heart, who has the stamina, the wish, who has the fighting spirit and it can come down to one scoring opportunity.

"I think in football you can expect any kind of result when you have to play 90 minutes, so I have no idea who will be in the next round."

FIFA have demanded that the Nigerian government withdraw their ban on the Super Eagles playing international football for the next two years and given them until Monday to comply.

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Nigeria's president Goodluck Jonathan has imposed the ban as punishment for the team's poor World Cup campaign.

That flies in the face of FIFA rules on government interference in the running of national associations and the world governing body say unless Nigeria back down the federation will be suspended.

Suspension covers national team and club matches in African competitions, referees as well as the cash that flows from FIFA to national associations.

FIFA communications director Nicolas Maingot said: "A suspension goes beyond the suspension of the national teams. It also freezes financial help and no referees can participate in international competition."