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Sam Marsden, Barcelona correspondent
Marc Cucurella has mentioned Spain have benefitted from being seen as outsiders earlier than Euro 2024 kicked off as they put together to face France within the semifinal in Munich on Tuesday.
Spain weren’t thought of among the many outright favourites firstly of the match, however they’re now closely fancied to go all the best way in Germany after successful 5 video games in a row and eliminating the hosts in Stuttgart on Friday.
“Inside soccer, there has lengthy been respect for Spain, how we play and the gamers we now have, however possibly coming in [to Euro 2024] as outsiders helped us,” Cucurella mentioned in a information convention on Sunday.
“We began with the boldness of getting nothing to lose. Now that confidence has grown and we’re in the important thing second of the match.
“I knew we had an important workforce, which has been confirmed. We’ve fought so onerous to be right here and now we’d like one final huge effort. Two extra steps.”
After beating Croatia, Italy, Albania and Georgia, three-time European champions Spain confronted their hardest check but towards Germany, ultimately successful 2-1 after additional time.
Germany, although, had been angered by referee Antony Taylor’s determination to not give a penalty earlier than Mikel Merino’s 119th minute winner when a Jamal Musiala shot struck Cucurulla’s hand, which was by his facet.
It led Germany coach Julian Nagelsmann to name for AI for use to assist make selections associated to attainable handballs within the space.
“It hit my hand however I noticed the referee shortly mentioned ‘no, no,'” Cucurella mentioned of the second. “That made me calm. If the consultants have since mentioned it isn’t handball, too, then it isn’t handball and that is that.
“I perceive there is a doubt, we’re uninterested in seeing handballs, some sure, some no. But when Germany gained, we’d not be speaking about it.
“We may have complained about [Toni] Kroos not getting booked earlier [for a challenge on Pedri] after which possibly he is despatched off later. In the long run, we scored yet one more purpose than them and went by means of.”
Cucurella has been one of many revelations of the match for Spain. Few anticipated him to make the squad months in the past and it was not sure he would begin forward of Alejandro Grimaldo within the opener towards Croatia.
“Probably, sure,” the Chelsea defender responded when requested if he felt his fame has been boosted in his homeland on the again of his performances.
“Once you go overseas it is troublesome, folks lose observe [of you] a bit. It is regular, folks watch Spanish soccer and the groups they’ve supported since they had been younger.
“The reward is all welcome. It doesn’t matter if it is arriving too quickly or too late, it is higher if persons are saying good issues about you.
“There’s a lot onerous work in silence behind it which is now bearing fruit. I’m comfortable to be right here with the nationwide workforce and now all that is left is to take the ultimate steps [to win the tournament].”
France stand between Spain and a attainable closing towards both England or the Netherlands in Berlin on July 14.
Spain will likely be with out the suspended Dani Carvajal and Robin Le Normand towards France, whereas Pedri has been dominated out of the remainder of the match with a knee damage.
“We must be very targeted towards France, above all when attacking as a result of we must watch out once we lose the ball,” Cucurella mentioned.
“They’ve fast gamers in assault and might exploit that. We must be targeted for the 90 minutes or nevertheless lengthy the sport lasts. If we are able to win the ball again shortly, I believe we now have an excellent probability.”