Euro 2020: Top-scoring Spain with concerns up front ahead of semifinals
Just take the win over Switzerland in the Euro 2020 quarterfinals on Friday, for example. The Spanish had 28 shots in a match that went to extra time and penalties and in which the Swiss played about 45 minutes with 10 men.
By the end, it resembled shooting practice against overworked Switzerland goalkeeper Yann Sommer. Still, Spain finished the 120 minutes having had to rely on an owngoal in a 1-1 draw, and even missed two of their penalties in an error-riddled shootout that the team won 3-1.
The problem for Spain coach Luis Enrique is he has nowhere to turn.
First-choice striker Alvaro Morata has the complete backing of Luis Enrique, yet — not for the first time in his career — looks like a player lacking confidence, having encountered abuse on social media after spurning many big chances in the group stage.
Gerard Moreno is the other striker in Spain’s Euro 2020 squad, and replaced a tired-looking Morata after only 54 minutes against Switzerland. The Villarreal player, who scored 30 goals last season in Spain, was presented with at least four clear chances to score — one coming from inside the six-yard box — but squandered each one.
