It is hard not to feel for Alvaro Morata. For a striker with more than a century and a half of career goals, the forward has attracted sympathy wherever he has played.
At Chelsea, Maurizio Sarri described him as “fragile”, but that was three years ago and little has changed. More recently, with Juventus, he spoke openly in an interview in the Spanish press about being “attacked from all sides”.
“I saw that people did not think I was up to it,” he said. “And it affected me a lot.
“When your head is not right, you’re your worst enemy. In moments like that whatever you do, you’re fighting against yourself.”
Against that backdrop, teammates, managers and supporters alike will have been willing him to bury his chance from just yards out. Instead, he put it wide as Spain wasted an evening of total dominance against Sweden to draw 0-0.
It was not the worst miss of the night – that award goes to Marcus Berg from a couple of yards out – but what Alan Shearer described as an “absolute sitter” was symbolic of an international career which so far, has been as notable for its lows as its highs.
Morata was left out of the squad for the 2018 World Cup, despite scoring three times at Euro 2016. Based on his international form in 2021 (one goal against Greece in a World Cup qualifier and little else), it becomes clear why Gary Lineker pinpointed Spain’s main shortcoming as their lack of “a real match-winner, an out-and-out goalscorer”.
Gerard Moreno might have something to say about that, the scorer of 23 league goals with Villarreal this season and one of the heroes of an unlikely triumph in the Europa League. The 29-year-old only came on with 16 minutes left, Pablo Sarabia and Thiago Alcantara having been given the nod earlier.
Morata was one of those hauled off after the hour mark, Mikel Oyarzabal thrown on in place of Ferran Torres. The latter, together with Pedri on the back of his breakthrough season at Barcelona, gives the Spanish footballing public much to be excited about.
They might have been equally thrilled to have seen Adama Traore, another unused option who gives Enrique a trick up his sleeve in the remaining games. La Roja are used to starting slowly, at least, having won only one of their last six opening games at major tournaments.
If they are to experience the usual upturn, and it’s to be assumed they will against Poland and Slovakia, scrutiny will be back on Morata. It is daunting prospect for any striker to follow in the footsteps of Raul, Fernando Torres and David Villa, but Enrique will be weighing up whether the burden is too much for his current number seven.
More from i on Euro 2020
- i’s Euro 2020 predictions – winners, dark horses, golden boot and more
- Daniel Storey’s guide to all 24 teams – from hot favourites to no hopers
- Home nations guides on England, Scotland and Wales
- How to watch every Euro 2020 match on TV and online in the UK
- Why England players are taking a knee at Euro 2020 – in their own words
from Football – inews.co.uk https://ift.tt/3wmA1H0
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