Germany have a less daunting task

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Niclas Fullkrug ensured that if they want to advance at the World Cup. Alexander Hassenstein/Getty Images
2. Maligned Morata delivers again for Spain
Alvaro Morata has always divided opinion. The Spain forward has carved out a career with some of Europe’s top teams — Real Madrid, Juventus and Chelsea — but has never quite commanded the respect of the Spanish greats who went before him such as Fernando Torres and David Villa.

Morata’s goal in the 7-0 win against Costa Rica earlier this week moved him ahead of Fernando Morientes in Spain’s all-time scoring charts and his strike against Germany took him to 29 goals, moving him level with telegram database Fernando Hierro in fifth place. Only Torres, Villa, Raul, and David Silva are ahead of Morata in the Spain charts, so the Atletico Madrid striker is in good company.

Morata’s haul of 29 goals in 59 games is impressive, but even coach Luis Enrique chose to start him on the bench, despite his team lacking a classic centre-forward. Morata doesn’t not quite fit that mould, but he is as close as Spain have to a player who can lead the line, link play and do that most important thing of all — score goals.

And his goal against the Germans was a great one, with a finish straight of the Torres and Villa textbook, with Morata clinically beating Manuel Neuer at the near post with a right-foot shot from Jordi Alba‘s cross. Yes, Morata can be frustrating and he misses more than he scores, but his record speaks for itself and Spain’s World Cup hopes are healthier when he is in the team.


Alvaro Morata’s goal had Spain briefly in the lead, and made his case that he should have a bigger role at the World Cup. Catherine Ivill/Getty Images.