Madrid: Spain's out of form striker Fernando Torres defended coach Vicente del Bosque's decision to include him in the 2012 Euro squad ahead of Valencia's Roberto Soldado and Atletico Madrid's Adrian Lopez.

Torres scored the goal that saw Spain defeat Germany in the 2008 final, but has had a poor season with Chelsea in the Barclay's Premier League.

Torres, who was bought by Chelsea from Liverpool last season for a British-record fee of 50 million pounds, went goalless for 24 playing hours during the English Premier League.

However, Del Bosque has included him in the squad ahead of Soldado, who was the top scoring Spanish player this season, or Lopez, who scored in Spain's 2-0 win over Serbia, Saturday afternoon.

"I can't stop the debates. I think that all of the players who are here are here through their own merits. I have formed part of a squad that this season won the FA Cup and the Champions League, so the end of season has not been so bad for me," said the striker at Spanish training camp in Austria.

Torres also insists that his future remained with the club, despite having previously manifested his discontent at having spent most of the Champions League final on the substitute's bench.

"I have spoken with the owners at Chelsea and they have confidence in me. They have full confidence and that is what I needed to carry on fighting and to carry on being important for the team," he said.

He added that having not played all of every game this season was a help in arriving in good condition for the European Championships, which is something that cannot be said of central defender Carles Puyol, who missed the competition after undergoing a knee operation.

"The loss of Puyol is important, he is a leader both on and off the pitch and whenever someone has had to say something in the changing room, he has been the one to say it. He has a lot of experience and is important for the team," commented Torres.

Spain will face South Korea in a friendly game in Switzerland, Wednesday. (IANS)