Cucurella's Comments on His Controversial 'Handball'
Cucurella discussed the controversial play in the Euro 2024 Quarter-Finals between Spain and Germany, where he stopped a shot with his hand inside the box, and the referee decided it wasn't a penalty. He reminded those upset in the host country that Toni Kroos should have "been expelled."
"It hit my hand, but I saw the referee quickly say 'no, no'. He made the call very quickly, which reassured me. If the refereeing experts say it's not a handball, then it's not, and that's it," he stated in a press conference when asked about the incident.
"I'm a player, and I don't get involved in that. If the referees say it wasn't a handball, I respect that decision. Ultimately, they have to make the tough calls. If they've said it wasn't, I understand," he added.
The play has sparked controversy in Germany, and Cucurella showed understanding. He also pointed out Kroos's harsh challenge that injured Pedri, which went unpunished with a card that could have led to his expulsion in the second half.
"I understand it's a contentious issue. We're tired of seeing some handballs called and others not. If Germany had won, we wouldn't be talking about this. These things happen; they're decisions. We could have complained that Kroos should have been shown a card and sent off," he expressed.