Morata's painful season gets worse with World Cup snub

Soccer Football - FA Cup Final - Chelsea vs Manchester United - Wembley Stadium, London, Britain - May 19, 2018 Chelsea's Alvaro Morata and Pedro on the pitch before the match REUTERS/David Klein

BARCELONA (Reuters) - There was no happy ending for Alvaro Morata at the end of the toughest season of his career, as Spain coach Julen Lopetegui left him out of his World Cup squad on Monday.

Chelsea's 60 million-pound striker slipped down the pecking order at Stamford Bridge after a dramatic form slump and niggling back problem in a chastening first season in London.