| “ | We complement each other very well. We get on well on the pitch and very well off it too. We're a good partnership. We both chase down defenders, put pressure on and fight to create chances for each other. | ” |
Torres made his debut for the senior Spanish national team on 6 September 2003 in a friendly against Portugal.[12] His first goal for Spain came against Italy on 28 April 2004.[12] He was selected for the Spanish squad for UEFA Euro 2004.[12] After appearing as a late substitute in Spain's first two group games, he started for the deciding game against Portugal.[12] Spain were losing 1–0 and, towards the end of the game, he hit the post.[12]
He scored seven goals in 11 appearances in qualifying for the 2006 FIFA World Cup,[100] making him Spain's top scorer for qualification, including a vital two goals against Belgium and his first international hat-trick against San Marino.[12] At his first ever appearance in a FIFA World Cup finals at the 2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany, Torres scored the final goal in a 4–0 victory over Ukraine with a volley.[101] In the second group match, Torres scored twice against Tunisia, first in the 76th minute to take Spain 2–1 into the lead, and then again from a penalty kick in the 90th.[102] With three goals, he finished the tournament as Spain's top scorer along with fellow striker David Villa.[103]
He was called up for Spain's UEFA Euro 2008 squad,[104] where he set up Villa to score Spain's first goal of the tournament in the first game in the group stage against Russia.[105] Torres came under criticism for apparently refusing to shake the hand of Spanish manager, Luis Aragonés, after being substituted.[106] He subsequently denied being angry with the coaching, saying that he was actually "irritated with himself".[106] He scored his first goal of the tournament in Spain's next game, a 2–1 win over Sweden.[107] Torres scored the winner and was named the man of the match in the Final against Germany in a 1–0 victory.[108][109] He said "It's just a dream come true. This is my first title and I hope it's the first of many. Victory in a Euro, it is almost as big as a World Cup. We are used to watching finals on television, but today we were here and we won. My job is to score goals. I want to win more titles and be the most important player in Europe and the world."[110] He was later named as a striker along with his striking partner Villa in the Team of the Tournament.[111]
Torres made his 60th appearance for Spain in a 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification victory over Turkey on 28 March 2009, becoming the youngest player to reach this milestone.[112] He was named in Spain's team for the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup in June.[113] He scored his second hat-trick for Spain after 17 minutes into a Confederations Cup game against New Zealand on 14 June,[114] thus recording the fastest hat-trick by a player for Spain.[115] He played for Spain as they were defeated 2–0 by the United States in the semi-final,[116] as well as the third-place play-off, which Spain won 3–2 against South Africa after extra time.[117]
Having undergone knee surgery on 18 April 2010, and missed the end of the Premier League season, Torres' rehabilitation and fitness was closely monitored by Spain manager Vicente del Bosque.[82] Although still out injured, Torres was selected for Spain's 2010 FIFA World Cup squad in May.[118] On 8 June, Torres made his first appearance on the field in exactly two months, coming on as a substitute on 66 minutes against Poland in a pre-World Cup friendly.[118] He came on as a substitute on 61 minutes in Spain's opening World Cup game on 16 June, a 1–0 defeat to Switzerland.[119] He started the next two games against Honduras and Chile and although his performances in the group stage were described as below-par, he received backing from manager Vicente del Bosque.[120] Torres came on as a substitute on 105 minutes in the Final as Spain won the FIFA World Cup for the first time following a 1–0 victory over the Netherlands on 11 July 2010.
