The Spaniard screwed the rebound wide of the empty net after a missed penalty by Gerard Moreno in the match in Seville, which ended 1-1 and left Spain under threat of failing to qualify for the Euros knock-out stages.
Morata could not sleep after Poland’s game over the trolls
Spain striker Alvaro Morata said he was bombarded with threats and insults, including people who said they wanted his children to die after missing an open goal against Poland. The Spaniard screwed the rebound wide of the empty net after a missed penalty by Gerard Moreno in the match in Seville, which ended 1-1 and left Spain under threat of failing to qualify for the Euros knock-out stages. The striker, who recently re-joined Juventus on loan from Atletico Madrid, says he could not sleep after Poland’s game over the trolls, but he remains determined to keep playing and trying to fire Spain to the title. Speaking to a Spanish radio station, Morata said that he did not slept for nine hours after the match against Poland. He received threats, insults to his family that they hope his children die.
The strikers would like people to put themselves in his place
The striker said: “I’m okay; maybe a few years ago, I would have been screwed. I spent a few weeks isolated from everything.” Morata, who had scored Spain’s opening goal against Poland before Robert Lewandowski’s header set them back, expressed that he accepted pressure and criticism of his performances but that some on social media went too far. Morata said that he understands he’s criticised because he has not scored a goal, but he wants people to put themselves in the place of receiving threats. They tell you that your children should die. What bothers Morata is that they tell his wife, what they say to his children. They tell them everything.
When asked why he decided to publicise these threats, Morata added that he would like people to put themselves in his place. He has two options: either shut up or come here to explain himself. Having struggled in their opening two tournament games, drawing with Poland and Sweden, Spain roared back with a 5-0 demolition of Slovakia to qualify for second place in Group E and qualifying for the last 16. Spain face Croatia on Monday afternoon, and Morata looks forward to a challenging game: “They have a lot to do. Brozovic, Modric and Kovacic, it will be physical, and we are going to need to press every one”. Spain could face FIFA world champions France in the quarter-finals, but Alvaro says the 2008 and 2012 champions do not fear anyone.
“I don’t think we are below France or Germany. We have a lot of things to improve, but there is no point in believing for better or worse,” he said.