Marc Cucurella has hit back at the ‘unnecessary’ and ‘disrespectful’ comments Gary Neville made about him before Spain got their Euro 2024 campaign underway against Croatia.
The 25-year-old has had an excellent tournament with Spain, starting all but one of his nation’s matches en route to Sunday’s final against England.
It comes after a tough season for Cucurella at club level with Chelsea, with the full-back facing heavy criticism from some quarters for his performances across a trophyless campaign at Stamford Bridge.
For many fans of the Premier League, Cucurella was a surprise selection as Luis de la Fuente named his starting XI for Spain’s opening match of the tournament against Croatia in Group B.
Former England and Manchester United right-back Neville even went as far as suggesting that Cucurella’s presence was proof that something was ‘missing’ in the Spanish squad.
‘We didn’t think he’d play,’ Neville said in the ITV Sport studio before Spain’s 3-0 win over Croatia.
‘He’s not been convincing at Chelsea, he’s played a few games towards the end of the season, he’s aggressive, he’s tenacious, he’s a busy little full-back.
‘That price tag [£55million] still, to be fair, astounds everybody I think to this day.
‘The Spanish defence has got a lot of experience now but there’s something just missing from Spain that makes you feel like they’re going to go all the way.
‘And I have to say, him [Cucurella] being at left-back probably is another example of why we think that.’
Cucurella went on to impress against Croatia and ensured Spain came away from Berlin with a clean sheet after producing a terrific goal-saving block to deny Josip Stanisic in the second half.
This weekend, Cucurella is expected to hold onto his place in De la Fuente’s starting XI to face England and the full-back was asked about Neville’s scathing comments in the build-up to the match.
‘In England it is very common,’ he told Spanish publication Mundo Deportivo.
‘They [pundits] have been players and have had those experiences. I don’t think it is necessary to be disrespectful just to get views or for people to know him or continue to hear his name.
‘These things happen, I think we have one last step left and hopefully we can lift that cup.
‘Then it will be our turn to speak.’
Cucurella was the target of loud boos and jeers during Spain’s semi-final win over France in Munich – leaving many viewers confused.
It soon emerged that the culprits were not French supporters, rather German fans voicing their anger and frustration after Cucurella escaped punishment over a handball shout in their quarter-final defeat.
Asked if he was shocked by the booing, Cucurella replied: ‘At first, yes, a little, because I didn’t really understand it.
‘But I quickly saw that there were a lot of people in white and I understood why.
‘Spending money to be in the semi-finals of the European Championship and then to boo… they could have given the ticket to someone who would have enjoyed the match.
‘The important thing is that we are in the final and the people who were angry or bored are watching it at home.’
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