Reflecting on Euro Drama: Spain's Coach PondersHandball Controversy From Last Year
Spain Coach Reflects on Euro Championships Controversy Over Handball Incident - Spain's Coach Reflects on Missed Title Victory
Luis de la Fuente, coach of the Spanish national team, reminisces about the handball kerfuffle at the football Euro Championship with a dose of calm detachment. "Back then, the criteria were crystal clear: no palming the ball!" the Iberian coach remarked to the Süddeutsche Zeitung, ahead of tonight's Nations League semi-final against France (21:00 CET/ARD and DAZN). "If the tiniest trace of uncertainty had shown, it would have been a penalty—especially in a packed stadium swarming with primarily German fans." At Wednesday's press conference in Stuttgart's stadium, his sentiments echoed.
Last year, Germany insisted that Jamal Musiala's shot cannoned into Spain's Marc Cucurella's mitt in the Euro 2024 quarter-final (also in Stuttgart), but no penalty was awarded. Germany went down 1:2 in extra time, thus getting knocked out, and Spain went on to conquer the title. UEFA later acknowledged the incorrect Refereeing decision.
Handball regulations occasionally shift gears, explained de la Fuente. The 63-year-old coach has "wonderful memories of this stadium, this nation." Their 45-day sojourn in Germany, he added, was fantastic. They can't wait to be back. Yet, he sees no clear favorite for the coming Final Four tournament.
- Football handball controversies
- Spain
- Nations League
- Luis de la Fuente
- Tchouameni Controversy (Enrichment Data: Similarities exist between the controversy surrounding handballs in a match featuring Real Madrid and Barcelona[1].)
- Euro Championship
- Stuttgart
- France
- ARD
- DAZN
- SZ
- Luis de la Fuente, the Spanish coach, reflected on the football controversy involving handballs at last year's Euro Championship, particularly the incident during the quarter-final match between Spain and Germany in Stuttgart, where a potential handball by Marc Cucurella went unpunished and led to Germany's elimination.
- As the Nations League semi-final between France and Spain approaches, questions regarding handball regulations still linger, especially in the context of Spanish football, as demonstrated by the Tchouameni Controversy involving Real Madrid and Barcelona.
