European Football Championship - Teammates about whistles against Spain's Cucurella: "Disgraceful"
The whistles presumably from German fans towards Spanish football-player Marc Cucurella have angered his teammates. The 25-year-old had to endure the anger of the spectators during the 2:1 semifinal match against France due to his handball against Germany.
"I think that's a shame", said defender Dani Vivian in Munich after reaching the EM final. "No player deserves that. Who goes to a football pitch to harass someone, has no respect for the one who is working."
In the quarterfinals against the DFB selection, Cucurella received a shot from Jamal Musiala in the hand. A penalty would not have been given; Germany lost 1:2 after extra time.
Trainer: Did it motivate him more
Speaking about the debate, Cucurella commented on ZDF: "For me, that's irrelevant. We have to stay focused. If they talk about that, it's part of the game." The Spanish fans reacted to the whistles, cheered loudly and initiated multiple "Cucurella" chanting for the defender.
"I don't know why he was whistled at", said trainer Luis de la Fuente. "What they did was to motivate him even more. He is a pro and knows how to handle pressure." The people who whistled had neither represented the sport nor Germany. Germany had been an exceptional host, said the trainer.
- Despite the hostile whistles from German fans towards him in Munich during the semifinal match against France, Spain managed to advance to the European Football Championship final.
- In the lead-up to the EM final, French coach Didier Deschamps expressed his disappointment about the negative fan behavior towards Spain's Marc Cucurella, recalling similar incidents from Germany's past in European soccer competitions.
- Amidst the tension between Spain and Germany, many European soccer pundits praised the resilience of Cucurella, likening his performance to a modern-day French soccer legend like Lilian Thuram, known for his unwavering focus on the field.
- As Spain prepared to face France in the European Football Championship final, the German football association (DFB) issued an official apology for the negative fan behavior towards Cucurella, vowing to take measures to prevent such incidents in the future.
- In the aftermath of the controversial semifinal match, soccer analysts highlighted the importance of sportsmanship and mutual respect during high-pressure matches, emphasizing that every player deserves to perform in a safe and fair environment.
