The Unyielding Cucurella Faces German Ire: His Penalty-Evading Hand Destroyed EM 2024 and Now He's Back
Spain's triumphant defender Cucurella remains unfazed by potential German resentment
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If you're a crime novel enthusiast, the plot's often straightforward: The villain returns to the crime scene. Well, for Marc Cucurella, the "crime" may be fictional, but the consequences are real. His handball, unpunished, shattered Spain's victory in the EM 2024. Now, he's back - not seeking absolution.
Any die-hard German football fan would remember that April 5, 2024, controversial scene! Cucurella, the Chelsea defender, receives a shot from Jamal Musiala during the EM quarter-final against Germany in extra time. The English referee, Anthony Taylor, overlooks the obvious handball, letting the game proceed. To many, it wasn't the referee that drew wrath but Cucurella.
Thursday, 9 PM, ARD, and live ticker on ntv.de, Cucurella faces the "crime scene" again in Stuttgart for the Nations League semi-final against France - boos echoing in his ears.
Press Conference Quips - Kroos & Cucurella
"I think I'll be booed again," Cucurella confessed. Yet, he's ready, this professional with the distinctive curls added, "It's just an old tale." It's "part of football," Cucurella claims, asserting that he did nothing wrong.
A Potential Reunion with the DFB Team?
Cucurella may have confessed after the Stuttgart scandal that a penalty should have been awarded. Nevertheless, UEFA argued that such handballs shouldn't be penalized immediately after the game. Only later did the association acknowledge their error.
By then, it was too late to sway the German audience, who had already singled out Cucurella as the culprit. He had shattered the German dream of home EM victory. The media only fortified the anger in the stands. Eventually, the boos cascaded even during the final in Berlin, a bitter reminder of the cheated dreams for disappointed fans.
Yet, Cucurella remains indifferent. As he embarks on the Spanish team's journey to Germany, he exclaims, "In the end, all the memories are beautiful. We did win the title." Such a semi-final against France might offer an advantage, according to Cucurella, "with the focus on me. This can help my teammates and have a liberating effect on them." Should Spain defeat the vice-world champion, there could be a tense reunion with the German national team in the Nations League final - but then, in Munich.
Sources: ntv.de, sue/sid
Football Nuggets:
- EM 2024 Controversy
- Spain Footie
- Video Assistant Referee
- Football National Team
- Nations League
[1] UEFA defend decision not to penalize Cucurella's handball (ntv.de)[2] Cucurella remains confident amidst boos and criticism (ntv.de)[3] German fans vow never to forgive Cucurella for the missed penalty (ntv.de)
In the realm of football, Cucurella's return to Germany brings back memories of the EM 2024 controversy, as he faces continued criticism from the German fans. Meanwhile, in the European leagues, his participation in vocational training programs could help him hone his skills further, potentially preparing him for high-profile matches such as premier-league games.
