MORATA AIMS TO PRISE OPEN AN ALL-TOO-FAMILIAR IRON CURTAIN
SPAIN’S search for a scoring striker is seemingly over after Alvaro Morata netted three times in the group stages. I would love, however, to gaze into his thoughts tomorrow morning as he prepares to face the iron curtain of Italy’s defence that has been his ally for two seasons — and is now the enemy in the heavyweight showdown of the Round of 16.
I believe there is great psychology at play when it is your pals you play in a huge match. Morata trained against Andrea Barzagli, Giorgio Chiellini and Leonardo Bonucci at Juventus. He will have put a few carefree shots past goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon during training at the Serie A champions.
In the Stade de France when Morata will be Spain’s best chance of a goal against the Italy defence, the job becomes considerably more daunting. The Real Madrid star has a habit of scoring on the big occasions. The goal to beat Manchester City in the Champions League at the start of the season and the winner right at the end in the Coppa Italia Final over Milan are good examples.
A double against Turkey and the opening goal in Spain’s surprise 2-1 defeat to Croatia last week have seen him emerge as a genuine forward able to provide the finishing touch to the best, quick passing movements in football that we know so well from the reigning European champions.
Morata’s Juventus mates form Italy’s formidable three-man defence with the imperious Buffon behind them. The goalkeeper and Chiellini are well rested after missing the 1-0 loss to the Republic of Ireland, as Conte went with a relative second string in the knowledge his men had already booked a place in the knockout phase by beating Belgium and Sweden. Italy were the first team to secure their place yet got hammered with the worst of the draw — Spain.
So, for Morata, I wonder if there is a little dread in his mind going up against these guys, or if he suspects there might be a little weakness somewhere in there that he is aware of. That he knows how to upset them, to get in between them. They all know each other so well. I would like to know what he’s privately thinking.
There’s a technical and ability question about how either camp feel but there’s also a psychological one. ‘I know these guys. How do we beat them?’ It will be: ‘I’m good enough.’ Or: ‘Oh my God, this is going to be hard.’ I think you kind of know how that personal battle is going to shape up.
Even his relationship personally with these defenders could come into it. Some lads can find it difficult to play against their mates. Never mind ability, my game as a striker was quite physical so I wanted to get up against people and make contact with opponents. Give up nothing.
Before I went to Celtic, I had no problem smashing into big Roy Aitken. That was my job. That’s what Alex Ferguson insisted on. I knew there were certain things I could do against him and expect to do. I would have a personal feeling of how well I would get on. Then, when I went back to play against Alex McLeish, who was a terrific defender but physical, I found it difficult to smash him about the face because he was my mate. Some have no qualms. I did.
Of course, either of these two teams are capable of winning the competition. It will be fascinating to see them do battle in the first knockout round. Belgium finished below Italy in their section yet landed Hungary. England finish runners-up and got Iceland.
Italy v Spain is the standout game. You would suspect if there’s a team to move Italy about and unpick them, then it’s the Spanish at their best with those deft little movements and balls that they can conjure. Italy can match the Spanish in many areas. What they don’t possess is the genius of, say, Andres Iniesta.
On their day, the Spanish would be the team with the ability but look at how tough this Italian team is to score against, so it’s going to take something like that. If Italy get past Spain, I’d take them against anyone.
Having seen Spain play as well as they did in the tournament then lose to Croatia, it has to put doubt in your mind about them. The Italians’ defeat to Ireland doesn’t bother me as much as the Spanish setback.
Italy had already qualified, rested key players and to have been as hard to beat as the Irish found it says everything about their strength. Martin O’Neill’s team were given a huge help by Italy’s team selection.
It will be different altogether from here on in. Italy will come back stronger. Antonio Conte will field the first team, no chopping and changing now. Their first-choice side can go on and win it. The way Italy set themselves up, they are still the team to beat.