One notable aspect of Spain’s Euro 2024 semi-final against France on Tuesday night was the regular booing of Marc Cucurella. The Chelsea defender was targeted throughout the 90 minutes by local supporters, seemingly because of the handball incident that took place during La Roja’s dramatic quarter-final victory against hosts Germany.
German media was appalled by the treatment of Cucurella, and they called it out in the aftermath of Tuesday’s match. As per Diario AS, Kicker called the incidents “shameful, silly and contrary to the idea of fair play”, while NTV were more harsh, labelling those that whistled Cucurella as being “bad losers and bad hosts”. Both publications also stated that it made no sense for Cucurella to be jeered.
Die Welt also penned an open letter to the people of Spain, and especially Cucurella.
“On behalf of many Germans, I want to apologize for the unsportsmanlike behavior of some – too many – fans yesterday in the semi-final against Marc Cucurella. It was unsportsmanlike, it was unfair and it was also a bit of a simple transfer of responsibility.
“Our sadness is understandable after the fantastic tournament and the nice performance of the team led by Ilkay Gundogan, Jamal Musiala and Niclas Fullkrug. But the whistles of the German fans do not seem particularly elegant, but rather bitter and resentful. We looked like bad losers and that has no place in sport. Some Germans may be like that, but many others find it shameful.”
