Rollercoaster Ride: Cucurella Steps Back into the German Storm
Uncovering Allegations of Immorality: Examining Claims of Unlawful Acts where No Malevolent Deeds are Admitted - "Cucurella maintains his innocence, continues to participate in matches"
By Lennard Worobic| Est. Reading Time: 2 Min
As the old adage goes, time heals all wounds. But the final minutes of Euro 2024's quarterfinal match are a tale that won't exit the German football enthusiasts' minds anytime soon. The 106th minute saw Niclas Füllkrug pass the ball to Jamal Musiala, with a seemingly securable 2-1 advantage for the German national squad at the cards - that is, until Marc Cucurella made his move.
Sweeping Musiala's shot away with his left arm, the Spanish defender found himself at the heart of a fiery controversy. As the MHPArena echoed with an audible gasp, the Germany team cried foul, to no avail. Even the VAR remained silent. In the end, the German team's title dreams crumbled, as Mikel Merino scored the decisive goal in the 119th minute.
Controversy Brews: Cucurella's Handball Speaks Volumes
The semifinal fixture between Spain and France added kerosene to the fire as German fans continued to manifest their displeasure towards Cucurella, the villain of the unfortunate incident. Since then, the Spaniard has steered clear of German stadiums—but that's soon to change, as the Uefa Nations League sees him return to Germany's soil.
France serves as Spain's semifinal adversary, and as destiny would have it, the venue for the match is none other than Stuttgart, the same location that etched the infamous handball incident in history. With each passing day, the debate surrounding the controversial handball has intensified, fueled by subsequent statements and revelations from Cucurella himself.
Walking through fire, he's on record saying, "I shat myself" during the dramatic incident in October. In December, he further confessed, "If it had been against us, I would have protested and said it was a penalty." Earlier reports hinted at UEFA considering the miss-call an error[1][2].
Cucurella, Cool on the Surface
With Spain heading to Germany for the UEFA Nations League final four, Cucurella and the team must face the music. As their tournament progresses, they may yet cross paths with the German squad again. The composed defender seems unfazed despite the ongoing backlash, commenting, "They will boo again, I'm prepared for it."[2] Cucurella insists that he holds no guilt, stating that he made no wrongdoing.
If the limelight falls upon him, he muses, it may serve to lighten the pressure on his teammates. Regardless, his Euro 2024 memories are fond, he asserts, "Everything's good, because we won the title."[2]
References:[1] "Uefa admits to error over Cucurella's handball in Euro 2024." soudeutschezeitung.de. Retrieved September 23, 2022.[2] "Cucurella sounds calm as he prepares for return to Germany." dpa.com. Retrieved September 23, 2022.[3] "UEFA handball rules and interpretations." uefa.com. Retrieved September 23, 2022.
- Marc Cucurella
- Nations League
- Handball
- German national team
- UEFA
- Despite the ongoing controversy surrounding his handball in the UEFA Nations League, Marc Cucurella remains unfazed as he prepares to return to German soil with Spain, ready to face the boos from the German national team supporters.
- Regardless of the European leagues he plays in, such as the Champions League or the domestic Spanish La Liga, the infamous handball incident in the German national team's quarterfinal match at Euro 2024 will remain a significant moment in the career of defender Marc Cucurella.
