UEFA Nations League: Cucurella Returns to the Scene of the Handball Controversy
- Author: Lennard Worobic
- Approximate Reading Time: 2 minutes
Actions reported to be without any wrongdoings committed. - "Admits No Guilt: Cucurella Resumes Active Duties"
A ghost from the past might come back to haunt Spain's Marc Cucurella. The infamous 106th-minute handball incident during the 2024 Euros quarter-final is likely seared into the minds of German football fans forever. With Spain set to face France in the UEFA Nations League semis, Cucurella is returning to the very turf where he altered the course of the match.
As the German national team seemed poised to claim a 2-1 victory, Cucurella dashingly blocked Jamal Musiala's shot with his arm. Fans at the Stuttgart MHPArena were left stunned. Their screams for a penalty fell on deaf ears, as did the VAR's. The missed call eventually led to Mikel Merino scoring for Spain, condemning Nagelsmann's team to a heartbreaking loss on home soil.
Not a Penalty, but Controversy Lingers
Since then, discussions about the handball have been reignited with fresh opinions and revelations. When Germany and Spain clashed in the semi-final of the 2025 UEFA Nations League, German fans greeted Cucurella with boos, keeping the bitterness alive. Since then, Cucurella has not stepped foot on a German football pitch.
However, the matter has not been laid to rest as the Spanish defender has continued to weigh in. Describing the moment, he said, "I was absolutely terrified." In another statement, he admitted, "If it had been against us, I would've protested and said it was a penalty." It has been revealed that the UEFA had considered the missed call a mistake[1].
Cucurella Remains Unruffled Amidst Storm
Spain's return to Germany, including Cucurella, might prove uncomfortable owing to his fraught history with the German team. However, Cucurella has remained composed, at least in appearances, prior to revisiting the country. "They'll boo again, I'm prepared for it," he said at a press conference in Madrid. The defender maintains that he doesn't feel culpable for the controversial incident.
Cucurella believes that the attention focused on him could provide some relief for his teammates, despite the continued uproar over his handball[2][3]. "I have nothing but good memories because we won the title," he looking back at the 2024 Euros.
Sources: "Süddeutsche Zeitung", news agency DPA
- Marc Cucurella
- UEFA Nations League
- Handball Controversy
- German national team
- UEFA
[1] UEFA Considered Missed Call a Mistake[2] Cucurella's Impact on Team Dynamics[3] Lasting Negative Sentiment from German Fans
- The League of Nations, a forum for international cooperation and peace, might find itself discussing sports analysis, focusing on the controversial handball by Marc Cucurella during the 2024 Euros, an incident that led to Spain's victory over Germany and a lingering bitterness in German football.
- As Cucurella prepares to return to the Stuttgart MHPArena with Spain for the UEFA Nations League semifinals, the champions-league defending champion could face criticism, not just for their football prowess, but also for past controversies, particularly the handball controversy that shook European leagues in 2024.
- In the realm of sports, where unsettled scores are common, Cucurella's return to the Stuttgart MHPArena is significant not just for football, but also for sports analysis, as it presents an opportunity to examine how a single moment in a game can create lasting effects, both on the field and off it.
