Euro 2020: Wasteful Spain held by Poland, face crunch final group game

Spainwere again haunted by their inability to finish off chances as they drew 1-1 withPolandon Saturday after missing a second-half penalty to leave their hopes of making the Euro 2020 knockout stage hanging in the balance.

Alvaro Morata gaveSpainthe lead in the 25th minute butPoland, who had hit the woodwork twice in the first half, deservedly drew level with a towering header from Robert Lewandowski in the 54th.

Spainwere given a penalty soon after but Gerard Moreno blasted his shot against the post and Morata scuffed the rebound wide, leaving Luis Enrique's side cursing their profligacy just as in their goalless opening draw with Sweden.

Saturday's draw leftSpainthird inGroupE with two points and needing a win against Slovakia on Wednesday to guarantee their place in the next round.

Polandare bottom with one point but head into theirfinalgameagainst Sweden with a chance of reaching the last 16.

"We are raging," saidSpaincaptain Jordi Alba.

"We kept on trying until the end but were against a really tough opponent and we lacked a bit of luck."

Morata added: "It's anothergamethat has escaped from our grasp and our nextgamewill be like afinalto get through."

Polandfelt a huge sense of redemption after losing their opener 2-1 to Slovakia.

"Before thisgame, hardly anyone believed in us. But sometimes you have to take two steps back to take another one forward," said defender Kamil Glik.

"I'm glad that we will play the realfinalagainst Sweden and I hope that -- even if it's a bit late, the tournament started for us today."

SPAINDIRECT

Spainplayed less fluid football than against Sweden but were more direct, whilePolandshowed far more ambition than the Swedes had and came close to taking an early lead when Mateusz Klich let fly from long range and struck the top of the bar.

But it wasSpainwho went in front when Moreno cut in from the right wing to cross with his stronger left foot and Morata diverted the ball into the net.

The striker was initially flagged offside but a VAR review gave him the goal and he ran to the sideline to embrace coach Luis Enrique, who has shown so much faith in him in the last two weeks after Morata was booed twice bySpain's supporters.

Spainnearly doubled their lead when Moreno flashed a free kick wide butPolandcame within inches of equalising when Karol Swiderski's shot skidded off the post and into the path of Lewandowski, who was thwarted by a fine save from Unai Simon.

Spainshould have struck again at the end of the first half when Moreno hit the side netting from close range.

Polandkept testing the Spanish defence and deservedly found a way through when Lewandowski soared to head Kamil Jozwiak's cross into the bottom corner.

Spaingot an unexpected chance to restore their lead when Moreno was caught by Jakub Moder but Moreno, who scored all 13 penalties he took last season for Villarreal, hammered his spot kick against the post and Morata could not keep his composure either when the ball bounced towards him.

Luis Enrique's side kept looking for a winner but had none of their customary cool and resorted to long balls into the box.

They were not far from finding another goal though, substitute Ferran Torres heading wide andPolandkeeper Wojciech Szczesny making two brave saves to thwart Ferran and Morata from point-blank range.