World Cup Countdown: Torres set to return for spain in warm-up

6 days to go

Spain manager Vicente del Bosque is hopeful striker Fernando Torres will be able to play some part in La Rioja's final friendly game against Poland in Murcia on Tuesday. The Liverpool forward is recovering from knee surgery undergone in April and has yet to play in any of Spain's tournament warm-ups. However, even if Torres fails to make the Poland match, Del Bosque is confident the 26-year-old will be fit for Spain's opening game against Switzerland on 16 June. "We knew beforehand that we would have this situation," he said. "But I have faith he will be fine for the World Cup."

South Korea have imported a machine from the Netherlands that controls oxygen levels to prepare for playing at altitude in South Africa. "It looks like an air conditioner but can adjust oxygen levels at a simple touch," a Korea Football Association spokesman, Lee Won-jae, explained. "While reading or watching video footage, players can acclimatise to a low-oxygen environment."

Australia are unhappy with the condition of their training pitch and are considering moving to a new ground. Pim Verbeek's side are due to move to the Ruimsig stadium in Johannesburg ahead of their first group game against Germany in Durban on 13 June, but the Socceroos coach feels the field at the ground has deteroriated. "When I was here last year it was fantastic," he said. "I don't know what has happened. We are thinking about plan B and plan C, but let's see how it looks."

Highlights of the day

Quote of the day

"It has not been fun to run around by myself." Nicklas Bendtner is as popular with his Danish team-mates as with those at Arsenal

Suck-up of the day

"I'm living a dream. To be in the cup with Argentina, with Maradona as coach; I'm experiencing something unique." The Argentina striker Gonzalo Higuain does his best to curry favour with the boss

Team-mate of the day

"Don't wait for me to give you best wishes or my hand – you are my enemy. Don't look at me. I don't want to know you." Greece's Giorgios Samaras reveals his feelings on his Celtic team-mate, the South Korean Ki Sung-yueng, ahead of next week's group meeting