There was this boy, tall, dark-skinned, shy. From a good family, the father in charge of a large media company. “A very hardworking young man,” recalls Luis Milla. “But no one who stood out from a group because of their personality. On the contrary. He stayed in the background. ”It's hard to believe that ten years later this boy would become a footballer that Spain has been discussing for days, even weeks. Heated and often over the top. “The way it is in Spain. Anyone who is in public bears a great responsibility, ”says Milla.

Milla has coached various U-national teams, she has seen the talents of tomorrow. Some were actually granted a really great career. Also Alvaro Morata, the introvert of yore? “Yes, you just have to look at your stations. Real Madrid, Atlético, Chelsea, now Juventus. More is not possible, ”says Milla. Despite the exclusive employers, the Spanish public has been far from elevating the 28-year-old striker to the rank of heroes in the past few days. This could change now.

Spain will meet Switzerland in the quarter-finals this Friday (6 p.m. in the FAZ live ticker for the European Football Championship, on ZDF and on MagentaTV) and the fact that coach Luis Enrique's team are now given good chances of reaching the semi-finals also has to do with Morata . He had brought Spain back to the front in an epic round of 16 against Croatia (5-3) in extra time when the momentum seemed on the side of the Croatians.

An important goal that coach Enrique subjected to a special classification.

"Alvaro Morata has shown that there are few who are able to do what he did," he said, hardly referring to the fact that his striker shot a ball over the line from around eight meters away would have.

Enrique spoke about the pressure and hostility his player had to endure at the start of the tournament.

Let the people talk

It started with whistles in the first game against Sweden. Spain struggled to a 0-0, which was less than expected, and because the danger of scoring had not materialized after many sizeable ball relays, the audience in Seville expressed their displeasure when the striker was replaced. Not very loud and far from a whistle concert, but Morata met the individual insults, although Enrique later defended him. "Morata will still prove how important he is to us," said the coach and should be proved right.

Morata scored the 1-0 against Poland, but failed several times in the second half in a promising position. Spain only played a draw again, and after another whistle against him, all the anger and disappointment burst out of Morata. He cursed in front of the television cameras. “People should say what they want. We live in a country where it's free to give your opinion. So let them talk. ”Words that looked like alcohol on an already lit match.

The outrage was so great that he became a symbol of the poor start of his team. Trade journals discussed whether he would be better off on the bench, and the popular witch hunt took place on social media. Much was discussed, such as his activities on his social media channels, his Italian model wife and his allegedly weakened work ethic since he was married to her. A picture was drawn of the tearful, spoiled soccer millionaire who couldn't handle criticism and always ran away when things got uncomfortable.

His departure from Real Madrid was accompanied by similar noises.

Morata, a native of Madrid, had completed most of his youth training at Real, but could not prevail among the professionals because he could not get past Karim Benzema.

He was only happy at Juventus Turin.

His great affinity for his wife's country of birth was also interpreted negatively.

Death threats on the internet

In the past few days he has now given rare insights into his soul life. After the game against Poland, he couldn't sleep all night. Only in the morning, when the sun was long in the sky, did it fade away. He reported hostility against himself and his family on the Internet, which culminated in death threats. Speaking to Cadena Cope, he said: “My children went to Seville and had their father's name on their shirts. I understand criticism when you don't do your job, but there is a limit. Some people have said they wish my children dead. I had to put my phone down. "

Not only on the Internet, but also in the stadium, the abuse increased. “Morata, how bad are you,” shouted the fans. In Copenhagen, at the game against Croatia, a spectator held a poster in his hands that read: “Morata, I won't clean him up either.” If the hostility produced something positive, it was that the team and coach were even stronger for theirs Use teammates. “Something like this can bring an intact team closer together. As is the case now, ”says Milla, Morata's former youth coach.

The team showed more than just a defiant reaction against Slovakia (5-0) and against Croatia. The mechanisms work better and better, the offensive now acts like a finely tuned orchestra. Coach Enrique, who was initially accused of stubbornness by various newspapers, is now being celebrated for not allowing himself to be bent. Milla believes that anything is now possible for Spain at this tournament. Even the title.