GERMANY VS SPAIN STARTING LINEUPS CONFIRM FERNANDO TORRES STARTS ON THE BENCH

We've just had the starting lineups released for the 2010 World Cup Semi Final showdown between Germany and Spain. The biggest surprise on that team sheet is the absence of the underwhelming Fernando Torres as Spain have opted for David Villa to be partnered by Pedro. 

That is a very interesting tactical move and I think it underscores just how underwhelming Fernando Torres has been so far this tournament. David Villa has shouldered the responsibility and done the vast majority of the heavy lifting. 
Here are the starting lineups for Germany vs Spain:
Germany: 1-Manuel Neuer; 16-Philipp Lahm, 3-Arne Friedrich, 17-Per Mertesacker, 20-Jerome Boateng, 15-Piotr Trochowski, 6-Sami Khedira, 7-Bastian Schweinsteiger, 10-Lukas Podolski, 8-Mesut Ozil, 11-Miroslav Klose
Spain: 1-Iker Casillas; 15-Sergio Ramos, 3-Gerard Pique, 5-Carles Puyol, 11-Joan Capdevila; 14-Xabi Alonso, 8-Xavi, 6-Andres Iniesta, 16-Sergio Busquets; 18-Pedro, 7-David Villa
I think that Germany's midfield is more dynamic and offensive than it has been in the past and they will be looking to replicate the form that they showed when they beat out Argentina and effectively shut Lionel Messi out of the match. They will be looking to do the same here today against Spain, but they risk opening things up for the likes of Xavi and Iniesta to take advantage of gaps left by players double-marking David Villa.
The Germans have basically had a tougher route to the semi-finals and have won by more emphatic margins. The Spanish had a weak group where they weren't entirely convincing and then they rolled over the next two teams they had to play without really being challenged that much. Spain will need to step it up a level today if they're going to beat the Germans and leaving Torres on the bench likely means that they have a different tactical plan to unleash here.