'I was convinced he was going to score!' - Spain boss had 'peace of mind' in penalty specialist Alvaro Morata before costly shootout miss as Luis de la Fuente addresses striker's retirement talk

Spain manager said he had “complete peace of mind” as Morata stepped up for his penalty in the Nations League final, but the striker was the only one to miss as Portugal won 5-3 in the shootout following a 2-2 draw in regulation time.

Morata has been at the heart of Spain’s recent success, captaining the side during Euro 2024 and playing a vital role in guiding them to the title. But the 32-year-old striker came under heavy fire from fans after missing a crucial penalty in the Nations League final. Morata recently shared his battle with anxiety attacks and admitted he is now contemplating retirement from international football, having received death threats following the defeat.

Notably, it's not the first time that the former Atletico Madrid forward has opened up about his struggles with mental health. In October 2024, Morata had revealed that he was battling depression right before the 2024 Euros.

De la Fuente said that he had no doubts the striker would score the penalty in the final and insisted he would have no hesitation in selecting him again for the penalty.

“I was convinced he was going to score it and make us champions. With the peace of mind that he's one of our specialists. Of course, I would give him that penalty again. He took it with complete conviction; I believed he was going to give us glory. The responsibility is mine because I chose the five responsible," he said to Cope.

Addressing Morata’s possible retirement, the coach reaffirmed his support and said the doors to the national team will always be open for the veteran striker.

"The doors to the national team will always be open to him, but whether he's a number nine or another role. He could come to support the group or tell us anecdotes, which is very funny. I haven't explained myself well enough to understand whether you understood that he's going to be a starter."

Spain kick off their World Cup qualification campaign in September, and De la Fuente will have to weigh loyalty against form as he builds toward 2026. At club level, Morata has been linked to Como after a brief loan stint with Galatasaray.