Fans booed a Spain player during the side’s Nations League semi-final against France – but there’s an explanation.
Spain took on France in the final four of the Nations League in Stuttgart, Germany, on Thursday evening (June 5).
The winner will set up a final against Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal on Sunday (June 8), while the loser will compete in a third-place match against Germany earlier that day.
Heading into tonight’s match, the theme was very much about Lamine Yamal and Ousmane Dembele’s race for the 2025 Ballon d’Or crown.
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Yamal, 17, was pressed about whether he had thought about the coveted award earlier this week.
"I am confident that we [Spain] will win on Thursday, but whether we win or not, I would still vote for the best player in the world,” Yamal told COPE.
"If Thursday doesn’t go the way I want or Dembele wants, then what? You’re voting for someone else who plays on Sunday? I’m the kind of person who votes for the best player over the whole year. But if people want to risk it all on one game, well… we can play that game then."
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He added: “I don't think about the Ballon d'Or; I think you will end up badly if you only think about that. I think about winning trophies. Imagine if I win the World Cup and the UCL next year, then the Ballon d'Or will come by itself. But the most important thing is to enjoy football."
However, it was neither Yamal nor Dembele that was greeted with a chorus of boos at the MHPArena.
Spain and Chelsea left-back Marc Cucurella appeared to be booed by those gathered inside the stadium when he touched the ball, but there’s an explanation.
Fans were quick to highlight a moment at Euro 2024.
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During extra time of Spain’s 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.
Spain ended up winning the game 2-1 thanks to a last-gasp Mikel Merino goal, and the German supporters have not forgotten that day.
"These are things that happen, I'm not to blame for anything," Cucurella told Spanish radio station, Cadena Cope, having been booed by German fans during Spain's semi-final victory against France at the Euros.
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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."
On Thursday, fans gave their thoughts on social media.
One said: "OMG THEY HATE CUCURELLA."
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Another added: "Germany fans still booing Cucurella 1 year later for this, such an inspiring level of hatred."
A third commented: "I will never get tired of Cucurella hate."
Topics: Football, Spain, France, Marc Cucurella, Euro 2024, Lamine Yamal
Luke Davies