Aggrieved German supporters jeer Spain's Marc Cucurella during Euro 2024 semifinal vs. France
Spain's Marc Cucurella gestures during a semifinal match between Spain and France at the Euro 2024 soccer tournament in Munich, Germany, Tuesday, July 9, 2024. Credit: AP/Manu Fernandez
MUNICH — Seemingly sore that their team was not playing, German soccer fans booed Spain player Marc Cucurella for the duration of the European Championship semifinal against France on Tuesday,
Any time Cucurella had the ball during Spain’s 2-1 win over France, he was whistled loudly by many German supporters in the crowd.
“The jeers against Cucurella are shameful,” Spain defender Dani Vivián said. “I don’t understand these people that come to a stadium to whistle and boo.”
The fans apparently blamed Cucurella for a penalty that was not given to Germany during its quarterfinal loss to Spain on Friday. Spain progressed at the host nation’s expense by snatching a dramatic 2-1 win in extra time in Stuttgart.
But German fans were incensed that referee Anthony Taylor did not award a penalty to their team when Jamal Musiala’s goalward shot rebounded off Cucurella’s arm in the first period of extra time.
Taylor evidently felt that because Cucurella was lowering his arms to his sides there was no intent to block the shot and that the player was doing all he could in the circumstances to avoid blocking the ball with his arm. There was no intervention from the video referee because it was not a wrong call. Play continued, and Mikel Merino went on to head Spain’s winner in the 119th minute.
German fans who had bought tickets to Tuesday’s semifinal expecting their team to be there took out their frustrations on Cucurella.
Spain's Nico Williams and Marc Cucurella, right, celebrate at the end of a semifinal match between Spain and France at the Euro 2024 soccer tournament in Munich, Germany, Tuesday, July 9, 2024. Spain won 2-1. Credit: AP/Matthias Schrader
Cucurella, who had a solid game, said he had paid no attention to the German fans.
