It was common to see . And not always for the better. Normally he didn’t deserve it, but the hatemongers on social media didn’t care about that. The most prominent striker in Spain, after passing through Madrid, Chelsea, Atlético, Juventus and closely sniffing his signing for Barcelona, was seen as an annoying profile for a large part of La Roja’s followers. A situation that the Federation never understood: “If it were a player from another country it would be a myth. We must vindicate the national, because the Spanish footballer is, for me, one of the best in the world. Morata should have much more recognition for his career,” asked Luis de la Fuente.
Morata lifted the Euro Cup in Germany and his football began to fade. First at Milan, then at Galatasaray, until he lost his place at . “Luis called me [De la Fuente]”, told Spain’s fourth all-time top scorer (34) to Mario Suárez. His response to the coach was faithful to the Morata style, not in keeping with the typical attitude of a professional footballer, not very fond of recognizing his weaknesses: “Mister, obviously I knew it. I’m not stupid. A couple of years ago I would have been devastated and now I understand what I have to do.” His scoring prowess in Serie A (one goal in 30 games) left him out of the United States, Mexico and Canada, in the same way that he opened the door for Borja Iglesias and elevated the prominence of a De la Fuente classic: Oyarzabal.
Morata was that mix between what was and what is. A forward as nostalgic as he is current, capable of adapting to any football. Oyarzabal, on the other hand, represents the modern striker, elusive and intense, always ready to look at the goal. A case opposite to that of Borja Iglesias: a guy who seems seasoned in old football. That is to say, an old school area forward. Both, in any case, complementary in De la Fuente’s call, which sought to have all the profiles covered in the World Cup. Something curious happens: while Oyarzabal drops goals when he wears the Red (25 in 53 duels), Borja Iglesias has not yet filled his throat with a goal with the Spanish shirt.
Oyarzabal escapes the limelight. He does it, at least, in front of the microphones. “The best are Haaland, Cristiano, Kane…” the Basque forward started when he was praised for his scoring ability. “I’m going to continue on the same path of helping the team. As scorers I’ll stick with Borja and Ferran.”
La Roja went from the noise that Morata generated to the discretion that Oyarzabal and Borja Iglesias display. “Mikel has great vision. I would like to have the ability that he has to understand the different phases of the game,” Borja Iglesias compliments the Real Sociedad captain. And if it is about praise, Oyarzabal responded: “I would love to have Borja’s body and way of playing behind him.”
De la Fuente surrenders to Oyarzabal and Borja Iglesias and looks calmly at the infirmary. He has no more injured players in Chattanooga. This morning, at training, De la Fuente had all his players: Víctor Muñoz joined Oyarzabal, Borja Iglesias and company. Another good news for the coach, who this Thursday had already recovered his wonder children in the last Euro Cup, Lamine Yamal and Nico Williams. With the entire squad available, La Roja does not hide from the pressure of seeking to lift the cup, as Morata did in Berlin 2024. “We can be on the list for the great work we have been doing, but we have to continue proving it,” concluded Oyarzabal, Morata’s heir on the field, also in the locker room: he is one of the four captains.
