Ian Wright hails Alvaro Morata’s ‘fantastic finish’ in Spain’s 5-3 win over Croatia… as Graeme Souness hopes goal will get ‘all those idiots of his back’ after striker and his family have suffered sickening abuse
Ian Wright was delighted for Alvaro Morata after the Spanish striker put previous criticism behind him to score a stunning goal in his country’s 5-3 win over Croatia.
The 28-year-old has faced scrutiny throughout the tournament after a number of missed chances, and it looked to be a familiar story as he failed to convert a very presentable opportunity with a header earlier in the match.
But Morata produced a wonderful finish to put Spain back in front in extra-time and send them on their way to the quarter-finals, and it was a goal that Wright was thrilled to see.
Alvaro Morata put the missed chances behind him to score a stunner for Spain against Croatia
The striker made it 4-3 in extra-time with a wonderful finish to put his side back in control
‘You just feel so happy for him,’ Wright told ITV Sport. ‘We spoke about it at the start of the game, the chances he needs to take.
‘He missed a good chance, and Emma Hayes was absolutely right when she said, ‘he’s probably going to get another one and he has to take it.’
‘And he did. It was such a good goal, such a fantastic finish from him – great touch, great finish.’
Morata has been booed by Spanish fans both before and during the tournament, while the striker revealed his family had been threatened after his country’s 5-0 win over Slovakia.
Ian Wright was delighted for Morata and praised the strength of the Spaniard’s character
This led to his manager Luis Enrique calling for action to be taken by the authorities to protect Morata and his family from the attacks.
Enrique said: ‘It is so severe that it should be put in the hands of police.
‘Threatening anyone, but especially someone’s family and children, is a serious crime.’
And Graeme Souness was hopeful the striker’s superb finish against Croatia will be enough to turn fan sentiment back in Morata’s favour.
‘What’s great for Morata is strikers do come under pressure, and have a hard time, but when it impacts on his wife and young children – please god that’s got all those idiots off his back,’ Souness said.
Luis Enrique has called for the police to look into abuse aimed at Morata and his family