Spain star Marc Cucurella. © ANSA / ANNA SZILAGYI

Spicy return: gauntlet for Cucurella?

Stuttgart, of all places, Marc Cucurella might think. If the Nations League Final Four weren't held in Germany, hardly anyone would be interested in the Iberian full-back before the second semi-final between Spain and France.

June 04, 2025

From: dpa/det

But he's preparing for a gauntlet on Thursday (21.00 p.m.). He's mentally ready, Cucurella said before returning to the very same venue where he caused the European Championship's mega-buzz last summer with an unpunished handball in the quarterfinal thriller against Germany.

European champions Spain are back on German soil. “A return to happiness,” wrote the newspaper Mark. But does this also apply to Cucurella? "I'm prepared to be booed again," he announced at a press conference – and, at least outwardly, appeared quite calm.

Main actor in Germany's European Championship exit

Where they lifted the European Championship trophy almost a year ago, coach Luis de la Fuente's charges now aim to win the Nations League again. Stuttgart will be just the last stop before the final in Munich on Sunday. In 2024, the Swabian metropolis almost became the final stop on the journey to the final in Berlin – and Cucurella became the leading actor in a football drama.

Cucurella drew the ire of fans at the European Championship. © ANSA / FRIEDEMANN VOGEL

The defender's unpunished handball in the Germany national team's quarter-final exit in an extra-time thriller against Spain sparked nationwide outrage. Jamal Musiala had kicked the ball against Cucurella's hand in the penalty area, but English referee Anthony Taylor didn't blow the whistle. Spain's Mikel Merino later put an end to Germany's title dream with his goal to make it 2-1. UEFA later admitted that the penalty was a mistake.

Cucurella himself understood the anger of the German fans. "I didn't do anything wrong," he said before returning to Stuttgart. How would the fans react to him? He couldn't influence what happens off the pitch anyway, said the 26-year-old, who just won the Conference League with Chelsea from London and would now like to add to his personal trophy collection.