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Alvaro Morata has sparked a storm in Spain’s camp at Euro 2024 after threatening to quit the national team after the tournament over “nonsense” criticism.
Morata, who has captained his country in Germany this summer, previously admitted it would be “easiest” for him to move abroad because of the poor treatment and laid bare the effect on his family, including his wife and four young children.
He also floated the idea of leaving Atletico Madrid just a week on from seemingly pledging his future to the club, raging that “in Spain, there’s no respect for anyone”.
Ahead of his likely next appearance against France in the first semi-final tomorrow, an explosive interview with El Mundo has caused uproar in his homeland.
“It could be (my last tournament with Spain),” Morata told the outlet. “It’s a possibility that I don’t want to talk about too much, but it’s probable.”
The striker, who played for Real Madrid, Juventus and Chelsea before joining Atletico, initially on loan in 2019, has endured a tense relationship with Spanish supporters.
He had been whistled during Spain’s campaign at Euro 2020 and notably jeered throughout a friendly against Brazil at the Bernabeu in March.
“In Spain, it’s hard for me to be happy,” Morata said. “Without doubt (I’m happier outside of Spain). I’ve said it many times.
Above all, because people respect me.
“In Spain, there’s no respect for anything or anyone.”
Morata married his partner, Alice Campello, in a stunning ceremony in Venice in 2017 and shares three sons and a daughter with the fashion blogger.
Meanwhile, the 31-year-old will be available for selection against France after incorrect reports claimed he had been shown a yellow card during the 2-1 victory against Germany.
“The other day, people said I was crying (on the touchline)because I’d been given a yellow card,” a furious Morata added. “What nonsense is that! I was crying because my country, with me as captain, had got into the semi-finals.
“I could never criticise someone who was crying because of that. But I’m criticised, when I’d cut my hand off to win the Euros.”
He went on to say: “I try to enjoy this tournament, which could be my last games with the national team and in the future, what will be, will be.
“Maybe one day they’ll even miss me. Each day, the moment for leaving is closer, that’s why I enjoy it, that’s why I’ll cry at whatever comes next, for good or bad.”
Despite looking to put rumours surrounding a potential Atletico departure this summer to rest, Morata again raised the prospect of a transfer.
“It isn’t nice,” he said.
“That’s why I still think, although I’m focused on the Euros that I don’t know if it’s best for me to stay in Spain… I’ve said I’m dying to win trophies with Atletico, but then, you have to weigh up if it’s worth it or not.”
Before the Euros, Morata again bit back at criticism over his performances and detailed the effect on his family.
“For me, the easiest thing is not to play in Spain, for my life, for what I have to go through when I go out on the street in our country,” he told Cadenas Ser.
“The easiest thing is to go and play abroad. Often, my children, who are five years old, do not understand why there are people who are so angry with their father.
“The easy thing last summer would have been to leave Atletico. I had better financial offers, great teams, but I have the illusion of winning with Atletico, when I see the way people react to our matches and our victories, that part weighs a lot.” —dailymailonline.
Spain and France, two titans of European football, will meet in a mouth-watering Euro 2024 semi-final clash between both the current and pre-tournament favourites at Munich Football Arena in Munich, Germany today.
The talismanic Kylian Mbappe will lead the line for the French, while promising young winger Lamine Yamal is also catching the eye. But France’s form has faltered, the team having been expected to sweep all before them.
Spain, the only side with a 100 percent record at Euro 2024, are joint-top in the number of goals (11) and top on total attempts (102) and balls recovered (230), demonstrating why they are now everyone’s hot tip to lift the trophy. Criticism has been hurled at France for a string of unimpressive performances, including progressing to the last four without scoring a goal in open play.
Despite reaching the final of the last two World Cups, winning in Russia in 2018 and losing only on penalties to Argentina in Qatar in 2022, France’s Euros record under coach Didier Deschamps is less impressive. In his 12 years, their best result was a runner-up spot in 2016 on home soil.
In the quarter-finals, France edged past Portugal on penalties, with Mbappe substituted after another match with more time spent fiddling with his mask rather than threatening the opposition goal.
Mbappe’s form after sustaining a broken nose in France’s opener – and the form of forward Antoine Griezmann – remain big question marks ahead of the clash with Spain, who knocked out hosts Germany with a goal in extra time.
“I don’t give a damn (about the critics),” midfielder Youssouf Fofana told a press conference on Sunday. “We are semifinalists. Questions about the level of Antoine and Kylian? We have to realise that that’s enough to be in the semifinals. So, I don’t see why we would nitpick.”
Spain, in contrast to France, are in imperious form with five straight wins, but will be missing a few key players in the semifinals. Midfielder, Pedri is out for the rest of the tournament after injuring his knee in the quarter-finals, while defenders Robin Le Normand and Dani Carvajal are suspended
In the semifinals, Nacho will play centre back alongside Aymeric Laporte and 38-year-old fullback Jesus Navas, the last player of Spain’s golden generation who won the 2010 World Cup and back-to-back titles in 2008 and 2012 in this very tournament, the Union of European Football Associations (Uefa) Euros.
Navas will share the right-hand channel with 16-year-old winger Yamal, one of the key players of the Euros so far. The Barcelona star has consistently troubled opponents’ defences together with the ever so slightly more experienced 21-year-old Nico Williams. All in all, the team is a blend of deep experience and raw talent that has been thriving under the guidance of coach Luis de la Fuente. “This is everyone’s national team. Unity is strength and if we all keep pushing in the same direction, we can achieve our goals. If we are connecting with our fans, then I am more than happy to play a part in generating enthusiasm,” de la Fuente told reporters.
The winner of this match will face either England or Netherlands in the final on July 14.
Fun fact
Spain are the only team to win all five matches at Euro 2024 – but no side has ever won six consecutive times at the European Football Championship games.
Fifa ranking: Spain (8), France (2)
Head-to-head record: 36 games: 16 wins for Spain, 13 for France, 7 draws
Last five matches: Spain: W-W-W-W-W, France: D-W-D-D-W – Al Jazeera.
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