World Cup

Alvaro Morata: 'Defeat to Japan could help Spain'

By Matt Law, Football Editor | 06 December 2022

Spain striker Alvaro Morata says that the team's 2-1 defeat to Japan last time out could help them in the knockout round of the 2022 World Cup.

Spain striker Alvaro Morata has said that the team's 2-1 defeat to Japan last time out can be taken as a positive.

La Roja thumped Costa Rica 7-0 in their 2022 World Cup opener on November 23 before playing out a 1-1 draw with Germany in their second match at the competition four days later.

Spain ended their group stage with a 2-1 defeat to Japan, which saw them drop into second position in Group E, and Morata has said that the loss could end up helping the 2010 world champions, as it would refocus them for the knockout round of the competition.

"Sometimes it's not so bad that something like this happens, because when you see everything clearly... If they had hit us in the round of 16, we would have been crying for four years," Morata told AS.

Controversial moment from Spain against Japan at the World Cup on December 1, 2022. © Reuters

"You have to think that it has already happened, that it was a mess on our part and that Japan were good. What you have to think about is that the failure occurred when there was still a chance to remedy it, in the group stage.

"And to think that we are in the playoffs thanks to the great result against Costa Rica, which seemed easy."

Meanwhile, Spain midfielder Gavi also opened up on the defeat to Japan before commenting on Tuesday's last-16 clash with Morocco.

"It wasn't easy at first. We wanted to win, to top the group and continue with the good feelings. The coach warned us that it was the most difficult game for us, that it didn't matter what we heard. That was clear to us," the Barcelona midfielder told Marca.

Spain's Gavi celebrates scoring their fifth goal on November 23, 2022 © Reuters

"I just go out to play football, to give everything on the field. It is true that despite my age I do not wrinkle.

"I am not afraid of anything on a football pitch, I just go out to enjoy myself and do my best. I can't think of football any other way.

"What I expect is a very tough game, because this is a World Cup, and we are now in the knockout stages. Morocco were better than Croatia and Belgium in the groups, and they are two teams of the highest level.

"What more can be said? We have seen that they are a great team collectively as well as individual."

Should Spain overcome Morocco on Tuesday, they would take on either Portugal or Switzerland in the quarter-finals of the World Cup on Saturday afternoon.