Alvaro Morata’s recent struggles have taken another turn for the worse. The Chelsea striker, already under fire for poor club performances, has now been left out of the latest Spain national team squad. In a twist of fate, his former teammate and rival Diego Costa has been recalled, highlighting a dramatic reversal in their international fortunes. As fans of Bangla Cricket Live often say, form is temporary, but timing is everything.
Since joining Chelsea, Morata’s journey has been rocky, and his exclusion from Spain’s squad is not surprising. He has failed to score in his last 13 appearances and has started only 4 of the team’s last 12 matches. This is the first time since October that Morata has been dropped from the national team list, sparking serious questions about his future with Spain and his hopes of playing in the upcoming World Cup. With only Premier League and FA Cup matches left for Chelsea, Morata’s window to prove himself is closing fast.
On the other hand, Diego Costa — who exited Chelsea after a public fallout with then-manager Antonio Conte — has made a strong return at Atlético Madrid. Since his January move back to La Liga, Costa has scored 6 goals in 13 appearances, regaining both form and fitness. Spain’s head coach Julen Lopetegui has called him up for the upcoming friendlies against Germany and Argentina. When addressing Morata’s omission, Lopetegui said, “The World Cup isn’t starting tomorrow. Those left out still have a chance. We want to explore more options. Morata’s main issue is a lack of game time, but he’s still in my plans.”
When asked about Costa’s return, Lopetegui was measured: “Costa always gives 100% in matches. But being called up now doesn’t guarantee a World Cup place — the same goes for everyone.”
The message is clear: the door is not shut for Morata, but the pressure is mounting. Even at club level, he faces stiff competition from Olivier Giroud, who recently started against Barcelona. To secure his World Cup dream, Morata must find both form and confidence — and fast.
For fans of Bangla Cricket Live, this situation echoes a familiar theme: performance under pressure separates the contenders from the pretenders. Whether on the cricket field or football pitch, seizing the moment is often the difference between heartbreak and glory. Morata’s fate now lies in his own hands.