Although the 2025 UEFA Nations League final between Spain and Portugal ranks among the most eagerly anticipated matchups for fans, the spotlight shifted to Spanish left back Marc Cucurella, who faced a wave of whistles at the Allianz Arena in Germany.
The reaction stems from a controversial moment during the 2024 UEFA Euro, when a shot from Jamal Musiala clearly struck Cucurella’s hand inside the box. Despite the obvious contact, the referee Anthony Taylor refused to award a penalty.
With the final being held in Germany, local fans have not forgotten the incident that cost their team a chance at the semifinals. As a form of protest, they have singled out Spain’s standout defender Marc Cucurella, believing that a penalty in that moment could have changed the course of their tournament.
In September 2024, UEFA’s refereeing commissioner admitted that officials made a clear error by not awarding a penalty. According to Relevo, referees have since received updated guidance on how to handle similar handball incidents. Going forward, even if a player’s hands are close to the body, those situations will be penalized to avoid further confusion.
After hearing UEFA’s stance, German legend Toni Kroos did not hesitate to react strongly to the situation: “It took them three months to realize there was a handball, something that almost everyone else could see in a second. That reassures me a lot (laughs). Can I say that I’m now a European champion because they have officially confirmed it? I don’t think so.”
Marc Cucurella responds firmly to repeated whistles from German fans
After that controversial match, Marc Cucurella did not hold back when responding to German fans. “These are things that happen, I’m not to blame for anything. I don’t know what they were trying to achieve with that, but that’s the way it is. The most important thing is that we’re in the final (2024 UEFA Euro), and that’s it.”
Despite the chilly reception he has faced since that game, Cucurella has firmly established himself as one of Spain’s top full-backs. He continues to earn starts over high-caliber talents like Alex Grimaldo and Alejandro Balde. Throughout the 2024–25 UEFA Nations League, he has been a consistent starter, even in high-stakes matchups like the final game against Portugal.