Euro 2024: Alvaro Morata emulates David Villa after scoring against Croatia

Alvaro Morata scored Spain’s first goal at the 2024 European Championship against Croatia at the Olympiastadion as La Furia Roja romped to a 3-0 first-half lead against Zlatko Dalic’s men. 

The Spain captain scored on the half-hour mark after being played through by Fabian Ruiz before Ruiz and Daniel Carvajal notched further goals to add to the Red Fury’s first-half advantage. 

Croatia thought they netted a consolation in their Group B match through Bruno Petkovic with 10 minutes of the 90 remaining, but the forward’s goal was chalked off for encroachment after Petkovic’s penalty was  saved

Morata’s goal was his 10th for Spain across the major international competitions — the World Cup and European Championship — making him the second Spaniard after David Villa (13) to notch double figures. 

Saturday's goal at Euro 2024 was Morata's seventh in the European Championship, taking him level with Alan Shearer and Antoine Griezmann, two behind Michel Platini (9) and seven adrift of Cristiano Ronaldo (14). 

Spain's next Group B fixture comes against Italy on June 20 before their final game against Albania four days later.