How the national media reacted to Marc Cucurella’s Spain display vs Germany at Euro 2024
Chelsea will have at least one player involved in the Euro 2024 semi-finals. Blues defender Marc Cucurella , 25, was part of a Spain team that eliminated hosts Germany on Friday from the international tournament. The European heavyweights played out a classic quarter-final match, which Spain eventually won 2-1 after extra-time.
It was Mikel Merino’s 119th-minute goal that sent Spain into the semis, where they’ll face France. For Cucurella, he kept his spot in the starting line-up and continued his impressive tournament. The Chelsea left-back has seemingly come from nowhere in 2024 to become a really important player for his country.
National media reacts to Marc Cucurella’s Spain display
Chelsea’s Cucurella received one glowing match rating from national media after his Euro 2024 performance in the win over Germany. Spanish newspaper Marca wrote:
“The octopus Cucurrella steals every ball that appears on his radar… Nobody can beat him in one-on-one situations. “Joshua Kimmich beats him with an aerial ball to the far post, curls it in and Germany equalises with a [Florian] Wirtz shot. The ball was very difficult to defend and the Bayer Leverkusen player finished off all alone. “The Euro Cup that Cucurella is having should be studied in football schools. “He was a hidden player and has ended up becoming one of the best players in the tournament. “A defensive lock and creating danger up front.
“Final grade: 9.”
Match stats
FotMob data has provided the individual statistics from Cucurella’s display versus Germany. The aggressive full-back was yet again at the heart of the action for Spain.
Match rating – 7.4
Minutes played – 120
Touches – 75
Accurate passes – 47/52
Chances created – 1
Tackles won – 1/1
Interceptions – 2
Recoveries – 3
Blocks – 2
Clearances – 3
Dribbled past – 1
Ground duels won – 3/5
Aerial duels won – 1/2
Was fouled – 3
Fouls committed – 1
The fact that Cucurella is keeping Bayer Leverkusen’s Alejandro Grimaldo out of the Spain XI right now is a testament to how well he’s playing. Hopefully, he can return to Chelsea in the same kind of form next season.
