No siesta for defenders with Villa and Torres on song

By Simon Baskett

NEUSTIFT, Austria (Reuters) - Spain's David Villa and Fernando Torres are emerging as the strike pair likeliest to cause most sleepness nights for Euro 2008 defenders.

Villa has stolen the headlines for his coolly taken hat-trick in Spain's opening 4-1 victory over Group D rivals Russia and an excellent stoppage-time goal in Saturday's 2-1 win over Sweden.

Torres also netted against the Swedes with a cleverly improvised shot from a David Silva cross as Luis Aragones's team clinched their place in the quarter-finals.

"There is no doubt it's a massive advantage to have two players like Torres and Villa up front," Aragones told reporters on Sunday. "They combine well, they've got great pace and have contrasting characteristics.

"Great players can always play well together and I hope they carry on as they have done in the first two matches."

Villa's tally of 18 goals in 33 games has finally laid to rest the national debate over whether former captain Raul should have been included in Spain's squad.

The 26-year-old Villa possesses the same opportunist streak as Raul did at his peak, is speedier and has the knack of scoring winning goals.

TRAUMATIC SEASON