Former Liverpool, Chelsea and Atletico Madrid striker Fernando Torres made his biggest contribution for the Spanish national team when he scored the only goal of the game against Germany in the final of the 2008 European Championships also known as Euro 2008.
Spain were known as perennial underachievers on the international football stage before Euro 2008 as they were not able to win trophiesdespite the plethora of football stars produced on a yearly basis. Spain had only the 1964 European Championships to show for their troubles on the international stage before Fernando Torres scored the goal that changed Spanish football for the better. His goal started the Spanish domination of world football that saw the country win Euro 2008, South Africa 2010 FIFA World Cup and Euro 2012.
Fernando Torres started his national team career in Spain with the u-16 team. He was part of the team that won the 2001 UEFA u-16 European Championship. The ex-Milan and Chelsea attacker was also part of the team that won the 2002 UEFA u-19 European Championship.
At the 2002 UEFA u-19 European Championship, he scored the only goal of the game in the final and was named the best player of the tournament afterwards. He also finished as the topscorer.
Torres made his bow for the senior team in an international friendly against Portugal on September 6, 2003. His first goal for Spain came against Italy in April 2004. In total, he scored 38 goals in 110 games for the team over an 11-year period.