World Cup: Why Alvaro Morata doesn't deserve to go to the World Cup with Spain

Alvaro Morata’s only wish was to be given a chance to prove he was good enough to lead the line at a top club. Coming through the academy at Real Madrid, there was a belief he could become the new Raul: the local hero who was capable of leading the line as Los Blancos maintain their assault on Europe. All he needed as the chance to show what he was capable of.

Such was his desire to make it at Real Madrid that he accepted a proposal from Juventus. The plan was always to go back at some point. Madrid was home. However when you’re trying to make it at one of the biggest clubs in world football you either need to explode onto the scene or prove your worth elsewhere. After the former didn’t happen, he took option number two.

Morata’s time in Italy is largely referred to as a success. He was a more prominent member of the team after earning the trust of Massimiliano Allegri. Yet despite his improvement he was hardly the first name on the team sheet either.

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In fact, during both of his two seasons at Turin he failed to start more than 50% of Juventus’ league matches. And it’s a problem which exists to this day. He’s good, but is he elite-level good?

Morata is convincing at being unconvincing

A return to Madrid duly came because it was win-win situation for the club. If he was ready to play a key role at Madrid, they had Karim Benzema’s natural replacement. If he didn’t quite kick on then his value was high enough to turn a quick profit. This was the chance Morata was after his whole life. And yet it had a familiar conclusion: he was good but ultimately not good enough to be first choice.

A key player from the bench in his return to Madrid but at no point did anyone feel he was ready to lead the line. Maybe it’s a confidence issue. Some players require a run of matches before they reach their optimum levels whereas others hit the ground running. Morata frustratingly fits somewhere in the middle of those two.

There are flashes of brilliance, moments of magic where you feel Morata’s turned the corner. You see a hungry young forward keen to put the world to rights. A man on a mission to conquer his doubters. Yet in the next instance you see someone who appears to be in an eternal war within himself. It’s that crisis of confidence which hurts Morata’s chances of ever being the main man. If he doesn’t believe he can make the difference, how can you expect anyone else to?

International football is about clutch moments – can you trust Morata to deliver?

International tournaments – and cup competitions in general – are decided by whether or not you take the few chances which are presented to you. Spain know this all too well. When they were in control against the Netherlands at the last World Cup David Silva had a fantastic opportunity to make it 2-0 and kill off the game. He misses and five minutes later Robin van Persie equalises. Spain didn’t recover from that blow and go on to lose 5-1.

And that isn’t meant as an attack on Silva, who isn’t a striker, but more how crucial it is to take your chances in the biggest matches. If you’re a Spain supporter would you want an important opportunity to fall to Morata? I don’t think anyone would. The player probably knows this too. You can see this by his erratic finishing in one-on-ones with Chelsea this season. He isn’t someone to depend on.

In previous years Morata was given a chance because of the lack of options up front following David Villa’s international exile. Diego Costa was Vicente Del Bosque’s original choice but the Brazilian-born forward didn’t have enough time to click with his new teammates and struggled. This opened the door for Morata. And once again he didn’t stamp his authority on the team, leaving him vulnerable to new challengers.

There are at least three better Spanish strikers than Morata right now

This season has seen Iago Aspas continue to score for fun at Celta Vigo. English fans might remember him for that corner but the reality is he’s a consistent goalscorer. His renaissance back home is admirable and under a forward-thinking coach such as Julien Lopetegui, that form hasn’t gone unnoticed. Aspas is someone you can depend on.

Last night he replaced Costa at half-time with the scoreline reading 2-1 in the host’s favour. The plaudits will go to Isco but Aspas was the difference maker in the final third. He picked up three assists and got on the scoresheet himself. That’s what you want to see from your forward, even if they aren’t first choice.

Aspas’ record of 61 goals in his last two and half seasons at Celta shows this is a man in form and who believes in his own ability. Something you can’t say of Morata.

The man Aspas replaced, Diego Costa, is finally showing signs of fitting in with this Spain team. His temperament continues to be an issue, it probably always will be, but he’s a wrecking ball in the opponent’s half. By hook or by crook, Costa will give 100%. A return to Atletico Madrid – after a six-month rest – is only a benefit to both club and country.

A fired up and fit Costa is Lopetegui’s go-to striker. Unlike four years ago he is there based on merit and not due to politics. You know what you get with Costa.

Rodrigo or Morata?

And so that leaves one spot open. Morata might feel he deserves it because of his previous experiences with Spain and the name value he carries. This might turn out to be the case, but on merit alone that last spot deserves to go to Rodrigo Moreno. Not only is he proving himself to be a more reliable goalscorer than Chelsea’s number nine but he’s also capable of filling in anywhere across the forward line.

Some could argue that Morata is a better ‘Plan B’ for Spain due to his height. But if you’re after a strong target men then you’d choose Aritz Aduriz, not Morata. And in my opinion a better ‘Plan B’ would be using Rodrigo just off the main striker, be that Costa or Aspas. You need to take form players to tournaments and Rodrigo fits that requirement.

Is Morata still first choice at Chelsea?

In contrast Morata has one goal in his last ten appearances for Chelsea. He’s getting more starts than ever but is now behind both Olivier Giroud and Eden Hazard in the pecking order for the biggest matches. Conte, the man who believes in him so much, is turning to alternatives in his fight to secure a Champions League place. For a player who struggles with confidence issues, that’s hardly ideal preparation for a high-pressure tournament such as the World Cup.

There’s every chance Morata could secure a place in Lopetegui’s squad but there’s very little evidence to suggest he deserves to. Costa is the main man whereas Aspas and Rodrigo offer a Plan B and C to the attack, along with goals. Spain don’t need Morata, just like Real Madrid didn’t need him either. You could even argue that Chelsea will soon reach the same conclusion. A World Cup isn’t the best place to rebuild your confidence and for that reason Morata shouldn’t go to Russia this summer.