Euro 2020: Spain face fight to reach last 16 after 1-1 draw with Poland
Updated On: 20 June, 2021 08:15 AM IST | Seville (Spain) | AFP
Instead, the ball flew wide and Spain were made to settle for another disappointing draw in Group E that means they might have to beat Slovakia on Wednesday to avoid an embarrassing early exit.
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Spain`s players react to their draw after the UEFA EURO 2020 Group E football match between Spain and Poland at La Cartuja Stadium in Seville. Pic/AFP
Gerard Moreno missed a penalty and Alvaro Morata squandered the rebound as Spain`s scoring woes struck again on Saturday, a 1-1 draw with Poland leaving them facing a fight to reach the last 16 of Euro 2020. Morata poked in from close range to put Spain in front but Robert Lewandowski`s excellent header, his 60th goal of the season, pulled Poland level before Moreno`s penalty came back off the post. The rebound came quickly to Morata but with Wojciech Szczesny committed down to his right, the goal was open for the striker to score his second. Instead, the ball flew wide and Spain were made to settle for another disappointing draw in Group E that means they might have to beat Slovakia on Wednesday to avoid an embarrassing early exit.
The whistles that accompanied Morata in the opening stalemate with Sweden last week were saved for the whole Spanish team at the final whistle. Poland, meanwhile, formed a huddle on the pitch before going to over to salute their supporters in the stadium, with the deadly Lewandowski coming up trumps again to keep his team`s hopes of progress alive. Luis Enrique had launched a passionate and prepared defence of Morata on Friday as he said the team would be "Morata and 10 others". But he also replaced Ferran Torres in the starting line-up with Moreno, the Villarreal striker whose 23 goals was second only to Lionel Messi last season in La Liga and who many believed should have been replacing Morata. Instead, they both played and both were culpable in the game`s decisive moment, even if Moreno had otherwise been bright, his shot teeing up Morata`s opener.
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