Striker Fernando Torres is confident he'll be back to full fitness in time for Spain's first match at the World Cup against Switzerland on June 16. The Liverpool forward, who had surgery on his right knee last month after tearing the meniscus, said his recovery had gone “perfectly” and he might play some part in Spain's three warm-up friendlies against Saudi Arabia, South Korea and Poland. “I am in very good shape and happy with how the injury is developing,” the 26-year-old said in an interview with Spanish sports daily Marca published Tuesday. “I have had two operations since January and that's not easy,” he added. “Everything was very good with the first and the aim of the second was to be ready within six or seven weeks and I am at the start of the sixth. “I will do some targeted work for a few more days and, God willing, be at 100 percent for the first match.” Spain play their opening Group H game against the Swiss in Durban on June 16 before taking on Honduras in Johannesburg on June 21 and Chile in Pretoria on June 25. Injury rules Traesch out Midfielder Christian Traesch was Tuesday ruled out of next month's World Cup with an ankle injury and joins Michael Ballack on the casualty list, the German Football Federation (DFB) confirmed. The 22-year-old Traesch twisted his right ankle Monday night just eight minutes into a Germany XI's 4-0 win over Italian third-division side FC Tyrol in a World Cup warm-up match at their north Italian training camp. An MRI scan at a hospital in nearby Bolzano, north Italy, revealed the Stuttgart midfielder has damaged ankle ligaments and cannot train for the next 14 days with the World Cup set to begin on June 11. Germany's first game is against Australia on June 13 and Loew has now lost two midfielders in just two weeks. “It was a stupid situation, but it looks as though there is no tear in the ligaments,” said Loew after Traesch tripped over on the pitch. With Ballack also ruled out after suffering an ankle injury playing for Chelsea in England's FA Cup final 10 days ago, Loew has lost yet another midfield option. Alongside Stuttgart teammate Sami Khedira, Traesch had been an alternative Loew was considering to replace Ballack at the heart of Germany's midfield. Apart from Bastian Schweinsteiger, Lukas Podolski and Piotr Trochowski, Loew is now lacking experienced midfielders. Germany, however, will not call up a replacement for Traesch, assistant coach Hansi Flick said Tuesday. “No, there will not be another nomination,” Flick told reporters from the team's training base in northern Italy. “There are several options, though they have narrowed down a bit. Dennis Aogo has played that position as has Heiko Westermann,” he added referring to left-sided defender Aogo and central defender Westermann.
