New Delhi: Spain fullback Marc Cucurella must be experiencing mixed emotions on the pitch in the semi-final game against France at the Allianz Arena in Munich. On one hand, his side holds the lead against France and looks to be on their way to their first UEFA Euro final appearance since 2012 and on the other hand, he’s the only player who’s being subjected to boos by the crowd.
The player has been subject to constant boos by the crowd and it seemed puzzling as to why he was the only one being booed. The answer lies in the fact that the game is being played in Germany and it’s the neutral German fans booing the player rather than the French faithful.
This is the handball incident against Germany that has drawn the ire of German fans (Photo by Tom Weller/picture alliance via Getty Images)
The reason for these boos by the German crowd comes from the fact that Spain were the ones to knock out hosts Germany in the quarter-finals and book their place in the last four. Somewhat controversially, in the game vs Germany, the ball hit the arm of Marc Cucurella while the Chelsea defender was trying to block an effort while in the box and it looked to be a certain penalty for the hosts.
However, referee Anthony Taylor waived off all appeals for a penalty during the game and the incident was deemed not to be a penalty by the VAR as well. However, the German faithful disagreed with that decision with former German captain Michael Ballack telling Magenta TV, “Clear wrong decision. The arm is outstretched, a clear advantage, and yet there will be experts who see it differently.”
The boos though don’t seem to be having any effect on the fullback as he has continued to be one of his side’s best players in the UEFA Euro semi-final against France.
Spain’s Marc Cucurella is the only player on the pitch who is being booed by the crowd everytime he takes a touch of the ball in the semi-final of UEFA Euro 2024 Football Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
