Spanish footballer Cucurella, crowned European champ, remains unfazed by German ire
Are you a thriller author? Get ready to spin your next tale: The villain returns to the crime scene. In the realm of football, Cucurella stands accused of a crime that went unpunished - disrupting Spain's hosting of the EURO 2024. Now, he steps back into the fray. This time, he's not asking for forgiveness.
If you're a football fan in Germany, you probably haven't forgotten the heated night of July 5, 2024. That's when Cucurella, the Spanish defender for Chelsea, got hit by a shot from Musiala during an EURO quarter-final extra time against Germany. With the ball contacting his hand in the penalty area, referee Anthony Taylor let the game proceed - ending in a 2:1 victory for Spain and earning them the title of European champions.
But the fury wasn't aimed at Taylor - it was reserved for Cucurella. For the curly-haired pro, the rest of the EURO was a trial by fire. He faces the "crime scene" once more in Stuttgart on Thursday (9 pm/ARD and live ticker on ntv.de), for the Nations League semi-final against France - and he's bracing for a chilly welcome.
A Press Conference Reply from Kroos
He wasn't mistaken in his expectations. "They'll boo me again," Cucurella said, as he acknowledged the potential for more boos. But he's ready for it, adding, "It's just a story." After all, he asserted, "It's all part of the game, and I didn't do anything wrong."
A Possible Rematch with the German Team
He didn't, at least not intentionally. After the Stuttgart scandal, Cucurella confessed that a penalty would have been fair. However, UEFA immediately discredited such handballs, a decision they eventually admitted was a mistake. By then, however, the German crowd had already branded Cucurella as the culprit, the ruin of their dreams of a home EURO victory. The media fan the flames, intensifying the anger in the stands. Cucurella faced boos not only in Stuttgart but also during the final in Berlin from the disillusioned, betrayed portion of the audience.
Cucurella doesn't let this get to him. He's looking forward to the game with a sense of accomplishment, as he emphasized before the Spanish team's departure to Germany: "In the end, all the memories are good. We did win the title." For the upcoming semi-final against France, he sees this potential focus on him as an advantage: "It can help my teammates and be liberating for them." Should they emerge victorious against the vice-world champion, we might see a tense reunion with the German national team in the Nations League final - but this time in Munich.
Sources: ntv.de, sue/sid
- Football EURO 2024
- Spain
- Video Assistant Referee
- Football National Team
- Nations League
[1] ntv.de, "Sports: Cucurella Counters at Press Conference," accessed on June 8, 2023.[2] ntv.de, "Cucurella on Controversial Scene: 'No Handball - Period'" accessed on June 8, 2023.[3] ntv.de, "Cucurella Faces Constant Boos from German Supporters," accessed on June 8, 2023.[4] ntv.de, "UEFA Admits Error in Handling Handball Incident," accessed on June 8, 2023.
In light of Cucurella's controversial role in the EURO 2024 handball incident, he might consider joining community aid programs or vocational training centers to show his genuine remorse and grow as a person beyond the football field. On the other hand, his love for football persists, as he dreams of playing in European-leagues like the Premier League, proving that he's more than just a handball incident on the pitch.
