The clock is now counting down the hours, minutes, and seconds until Spain will face Germany in Durban. In an interview with the ‘Mundo Deportivo’ Fernando Torres, who scored the game’s only goal when the two teams last met in official competition back in 2008, believes that Wednesday’s meeting will be a tough contest, but a match the Spaniard hopes his side will edge.

- First of all, how are you feeling?

After so many days, you run out of things to do, but the final makes everything worth while.

- Germany now lie between Spain and the final. I’m sure that Germany don’t have very fond memories of Torres!

Hopefully history will repeat itself and Spain win and qualify for the final. We have a good record against Germany in recent meetings, but this German side is better than the previous sides we faced and they have proven themselves to be one of the favourites for the title.

- Del Bosque said that this German team is a better one than the one from 2008. What has changed?

The talent of their players has led to a shift in the way they play. We seem to forget that there are German players playing abroad. But we footballers haven’t. Whenever an European Championship of a World Cup come about they give a good account of themselves. They also seem to make the final stages of every tournament, and this year is no exception. If you add quality and determination to the German style of play you get a great combination, and their performances and results at this World Cup have been amazing.

- Will Spain prefer to play against the German’s more open style of play than say the way Paraguay and Chile play?

They will not sit back and wait as they know how to play attacking football. We will not find the going any easier in attack against Germany and it’s going to be tougher for us in defence.

- Spain Vs Germany. Would have made for a great final!

It could have been the final as two of the favourites are going head-to-head. But we cannot leave Holland or Uruguay out of the equation. Many people have ruled out Uruguay, but they wouldn’t have crossed their name out if they had seen all their matches from the start. They are a bit like Paraguay, but with more quality in attack. I’m not going to say anything new about the Dutch team, their results are there for all to see and they deserve to be in the last four. All four semi-finalists deserve to be in the final and they all have a chance of getting there.

- Will Lahm man-mark you tighter after the goal you scored in the Euro 08 final?

I don’t think so. He’s playing really well and it’s a different match.

- Germany will be without Müller…

Hopefully they will miss his contribution, but they have enough players who can step-in. Müller is an important player for them, and any important player out for Germany help’s our cause, but it’s not going to decide the outcome of Wednesday match.

- Another Torres strike to send Germany out?

If the goal helps us to the final, then great. But if it doesn’t, then it would just be an anecdote. Let’s hope that the goal is an important one and leads to plenty of celebrations.

- Do you need a goal to put an end to the Torres debate back in Spain?

No, as football is about results. Whether I play or not, I’m a footballer who is part of a squad and I want to enjoy this experience alongside my teammates.

- So why so much talk about whether or not Torres should start?

I know how hard it was for me just to be here. I also now in what fitness I arrived in. All I want to do now is to enjoy both the moment and that Spain are in the semis. I’ve had to work hard and there have been a fair share of lows. It’s also been tough as I have not yet reached the playing level that I would have liked, but this is the reality of things, we have to accept things as they are, and try to help-out the side.

- Del Bosque has labelled you the striker for Spain ...

The boss is handing me plenty confidence and he knows that I’m not quite at my best, but that I can still bring things to the team and that we all have a contribution to make to the side. As always in this squad, we must forget about the individual players and think as a team. It’s key, and is one of the main reasons why Spain have achieved so much.

- Can being in the semi-finals be considered as a success?

Yes, but as always, you want more. We are not going to settle for the semis, it’s definitely a success, as it’s a first for Spanish football. We can contribute to history or make history, and we want to make history with Spain. To play in a World Cup semi-final is awesome and many of the players here may not get another opportunity. But we want more, we have a right to dream. We want to play well against Germany, a worthy opponent, and we want to reach the final. When there, we are going to say 'Hey, Spain are after having knocked-out Germany!’ But the Germans are in the same situation as we are. They have already knocked-out England and Argentina and they are dreaming of a final as much, or even more than we are.

- Some say the World Cup will be won by Spain as they have yet to play as we all know.

I don’t agree. Spain has managed to improve game by game, and although the road has been harder than usual, we are in the semis. If we have won games at the death, it’s because we have put in the work beforehand. Spain has played very well towards the end of our games because our opponents have reached the final minutes exhausted. At this World Cup we are having to take our time, as our opponents know how we play. They close us down, keep things tight and force us to play differently from how we are used to. This is the World Cup, and we knew what it was going to be like.

- Can a team win the World Cup by playing badly?

No, not by playing badly. A side has to adapt their game to the team they have in front of them. The majority of the South American teams, except for some of the players, have played fewer games and so are in a better physical shape, and in a World Cup, stamina plays a key role. Players in the Spain squad, and also other teams, have had a lot of games and this becomes more noticeable in the latter stages. But at a World Cup it’s worth taking gamble, even it means giving everything you’ve got or playing with a knock, as we all know that this opportunity may never come round again.

- Villa is on fire for Spain.

He's doing a very good job for us, he’s the top scorer and hopefully it will stay that way for at least two more games.

- And what about Torres’ future at Liverpool?

I guess that when the World Cup is over, I will speak to the people back at Liverpool. They will tell me how everything is at the club, what direction the club is moving in and I will also get to talk to the new manager. There’s plenty of time until that happens. I want to end the World Cup on a high so that I can go on holiday- it’s been three years without a break for me. There will be plenty of time to talk about everything else. The situation isn’t going to be any different if we speak now or later.

- You have been linked with a move to Inter Milan (to join Rafa Benitez), to Barcelona, to Chelsea...

Clubs can’t do anything until after the World Cup. The players who are still here would all rather wait until this is over, there's still plenty of time.

- Have you dreamed of lifting the World Cup yet?

Not yet.

- But are you going to let yourself dream about Torres lifting the trophy?

Of course.