- Alvaro Morata was collided into by a security guard after Spain beat France 2-1
- The security guard had slipped as he tried to intercept a pitch invader at full-time
- LISTEN to It’s All Kicking Off! EUROS DAILY: Have France underachieved by crashing out to Spain in the semi-finals?
Alvaro Morata has provided an update on his fitness ahead of the Euro 2024 final after he was bizarrely injured by a security guard on Tuesday.
Spain defeated France in the semi-final in Munich last night, as goals from Lamine Yamal and Dani Olmo condemned Les Bleus to their fate after Randal Kolo Muani had opened the scoring.
Morata, who is captain of La Roja, played 76 minutes of the clash before being replaced by Mikel Oyarzabal.
However, he was involved in a strange incident during Spain’s on-pitch celebrations after their place in Sunday’s final was confirmed.
As a security guard rushed to intercept a pitch invader who was heading towards Spain’s players, he slipped and crashed into Morata’s knee.
The striker was left wincing in pain in a worrying sight for Luis de la Fuente’s side.
Reports claimed Morata had twisted his knee, but the 31-year-old revealed his condition when asked as he was leaving Spain’s hotel on Wednesday morning.
The Atletico Madrid star informed reporters that his availability in the final was not in danger, according to Spanish outlet Marca, while he also saw the funny side surrounding the incident.
‘It (the security guard’s challenge) was a yellow card and that’s it,’ Morata joked.
Morata had been visibly upset as he left the pitch, with the striker expected to have a precautionary scan at some point today.
Speaking after their semi-final victory, De la Fuente had claimed he was optimistic that the incident with Morata wasn’t too serious.
‘We are going to wait on Alvaro until tomorrow (Wednesday),’ he said.
‘We don’t think it’s anything, but his leg hurts. We think he’s going to be OK.’
The incident with Morata and Spain’s victory comes after he sparked a storm in Spain’s camp on the eve of the semi-final as he threatened to quit the national team when the tournament concludes over ‘nonsense’ criticism.
The striker previously admitted it would be ‘easiest’ for him to move abroad because of the poor treatment and laid bare the effect on his family, including his wife and four young children.
He also floated the idea of leaving Atletico Madrid just a week on from seemingly pledging his future to the club, raging that ‘in Spain, there’s no respect for anyone’.
His explosive interview with El Mundo caused uproar in his homeland ahead of the France clash.
‘It could be [my last tournament with Spain],’ Morata told the outlet. ‘It’s a possibility that I don’t want to talk about too much, but it’s probable.’
The striker, who played for Real Madrid, Juventus and Chelsea before joining Atletico, initially on loan in 2019, has endured a tense relationship with Spanish supporters.
He had been whistled during Spain’s campaign at Euro 2020 and notably jeered throughout a friendly against Brazil at the Bernabeu in March.
‘In Spain it’s hard for me to be happy,’ Morata said. ‘Without doubt [I’m happier outside of Spain]. I’ve said it many times. Above all, because people respect me.
‘In Spain there’s no respect for anything or anyone.’
Spain and Morata will watch England’s semi-final against the Netherlands on Wednesday night with bated breath as they wait to see who their opponents will be in Sunday’s final.
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