It was an early sign of things to come and Liverpool opened their account in magnificentstyle as Torres stamped an instant hallmark of quality on the game.
What is more, the team coached by the avuncular figure of Vicente Del Bosque did so in such a magnificentstyle - thrashing dangerous Italy 4-0 in the final - that they have been widely saluted as the greatest international team ever to have played the game.
But when the goal came, it arrived in emphatic style with the impressive Riera striking a magnificent shot from distance that flew into the top corner.