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Topics: Marc Cucurella, Spain, UEFA Nations League, Germany, Football, Chelsea
Luke Davies
Topics: Marc Cucurella, Spain, UEFA Nations League, Germany, Football, Chelsea
Spain left-back Marc Cucurella has made his feelings clear after being booed by German fans in recent UEFA Nations League fixtures.
Cucurella, 26, has been part of Spain’s squad for the end-of-season UEFA Nations League fixtures in Germany.
On Thursday (June 5), he featured in Spain’s 5-4 semi-final victory against France in Stuttgart, before playing in Sunday’s final against Portugal in Munich.
But to the bemusement of supporters watching on TV, the Chelsea defender has been greeted with boos from German supporters gathered inside both the Allianz Arena and MHP Arena.
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And given the fact that there is no obvious rivalry between Germany and Spain, some fans were left questioning why.
Well, there’s an explanation.
In extra time of Spain’s Euros quarter-final against Germany last summer, the left-back appeared to block a shot with his hand; however, to the dismay of the home fans, no penalty was awarded, and the hosts subsequently went out due to Mikel Merino’s last-gasp goal.
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And it’s safe to say German fans are still salty about what happened at the tournament.
So, what has Cucurella said about the incident?
After Spain’s Euros semi-final victory against France last summer, the Chelsea man had his say on the situation.
"These are things that happen, I'm not to blame for anything," Cucurella told Spanish radio station Cadena Cope.
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"I don't know what they were trying to achieve with that, but that's the way it is.
"The most important thing is that we're in the final, and that's it."
Speaking to La Vanguardia, he added: "When I returned to the Brighton pitch with Chelsea, I had been booed a lot too, even more.
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“I think a lot of people had bought their tickets ahead of time and I imagine they were whistling through my hands. But these are things that happen, it’s not something that affects me.
“The truth is that going to a field where your team is not playing and, instead of enjoying a semi-final, spend the time whistling, I don’t think it’s necessary. I’m not saying this for myself, but you could be enjoying a really good game.”
Cucurella's Spanish counterpart, Dani Vivian, also weighed in with his take.
"I think it is a disgrace," Vivian said last summer. "No player deserves that. I think anyone who goes to a football match to boo someone has no respect for the person who is doing their job."