Alv a go h Wn Croats in thriller eroes
Morata finds his shooting boots as Spain dow
ALVARO MORATA finally found his spark as Spain and Croatia lit up the Euros with an astonishing eightgoal Copenhagen ding-dong.
Morata – heavily criticised for his performances in the group stage – repaid Luis Enrique’s faith to fire in the crucial fourth goal after courageous Croatia had fought back from 3-1 down to force extra time in the final five minutes of the 90.
It was quite simply a breathtaking encounter that had a bit of everything – goals, saves, more goals and blunders.
Spain are now the first team in Euros history to score five in back to back games as they head into the quarter-finals.
And the most relieved man in their ranks will be keeper Unai Simon whose 20th minute howler handed Croatia an unlikely lead and threatened to send Spain hurtling out at the last 16 stage for the third tournament in a row.
Simon allowed Pedri’s pass back from almost the halfway line to bobble into the net.
Two weeks on from David Marshall being embarrassed from 54 yards by Czech ace Patrick Schick, this was a goal to rival that distance.
Nevertheless Spain dug deep to eventually book their lasteight spot thanks to goals from Pablo Sarabia, Cesar Azpilicueta and Ferran Torres before Morata’s extra-time stunner and Mikel Oyarzabal’s clincher.
And in the end Enrique’s side were deserved winners.
The competition had been a slow burner for both these sides who failed to win their opening two group games.
But good things often come to those who wait and boy was this good. It was incredible.
Croatia, at their sixth Euros, are still searching for a first knockout stages victory and all eyes will now be on Luka Modric and whether the 142-cap superstar decides to continue his love affair with the national team.
Spain were relentless in the opening stages, forcing Croatia to defend deep, and Sarabia smashed an angled effort into the side netting after neat play by Sergio Busquets.
Koke should have opened the scoring after 15 minutes.
Pedri sliced open the Croatia defence with a perfectly weighted pass only for the Atletico Madrid man to strike his effort off the legs of Dominik Livakovic.
Then Morata inexplicably headed off Vida when it looked easier to score from six yards.
And how he was made to pay when Croatia went ahead in utterly shambolic fashion after 20 minutes.
Pedri’s back pass from close to the halfway line was a tad heavy but should have been meat and drink for Simon who allowed the ball to bobble over his right boot.
The Bilbao goalkeeper’s anguish as he attempted to chase the lost cause heading towards his net was painfully reminiscent of Marshall against the Czechs.
But if the Scotland keeper was guilty of questionable positioning then Simon’s blunder was in a different category altogether.
It was also a ninth own goal of the tournament so far – incredibly equalling the OG total for the entire history of the competition.
But Spain hit back and levelled in the 38th minute through Sarabia.
Livakovic did well initially to save Jose Gaya’s drive low to his left but Sarabia pounced on the rebound to fire high past the keeper’s despairing attempts to stop it.
It was the least Enrique’s side deserved for a first half in which they had bossed 73 per cent of possession, registering 10 shots to Croatia’s two. And they forced themselves ahead with a goal made in England after 57 minutes.
Pedri sent Torres free on the left and the Manchester City forward’s cross was headed home from four yards by Chelsea right-back Azpilicueta, who outjumped Josko Gvardiol all too easily.
Croatia were staring at elimination and Torres looked to have put the tie to bed with 14 minutes remaining.
He raced onto Gaya’s huge diagonal with the Croats caught napping at a free-kick and the City ace slid the ball past Livakovic.
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e up though and incredibly ced extra time with two ls in the closing stages. irst Modric’s cut back was ced over the line by sub lav Orsic with five minutes go. hen deep into injury time ow sub Mario Pasalic forced game into and extra halfur with a thumping header m Orsic’s cross.
t was a breathless ending he 90 minutes.
And if Simon was left red ed early in normal time then was the hero five minutes o extra time. he keeper threw up a left nd to brilliantly save Andrej maric’s effort from 10 yards.
And it was to prove a massive save as Morata finally broke his Euros duck to rattle home in the 100th minute.
The former Chelsea star brilliantly cushioned a deep cross with his right foot before leathering an effort past Livakovic with his left.
Two minutes later it was 5-3 and game over as sub Oyarzabal blasted home from inside the box after more good build-up play from Morata.
Spain had saved their skins. But how much energy will have been sapped from the legs by this 120-minute barnstormer only time will tell.