Although Marc Cucurella finished the season as a starter at Chelsea, The loss of status of the blues, their more secondary role during the rest of the year and the good form of their direct competitor from Leverkusen, Alejandro Grimaldo, caused doubts and even memes taking advantage of his characteristic curls to surround the news of his call for this European Championship in Germany.
After the final whistle of the match against Italy, after playing 180 unbeaten minutes and putting together an outstanding performance against the Azzurra, the memes became praise after praise and a video of José Luis Mendilibar appeared in the network at a press conference during the period in which coach and player coincided Eibar. Those skeptics of the Basque coach, once again, had to agree with him. “He is not fast nor is he strong… […] “Cucurella is a footballer, he is smart and chooses well,” assured the master champion of the Conference League with Olympiacos. Mendi came to explain about Cucurella what the New York Times never published about Lola Flores and that he applies to the side with the “It neither sings nor dances, but don’t miss it.”
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Alberto EstevezEFE
Unmissable was Cucurella in Gelsenkirchen. At a data level, the Catalan was impeccable in the match against the Azzurra. He made 52 of the 53 passes he attempted, won ten duels to which he went with toughness and bravery and no opponent was able to dribble him. Furthermore, he stole the ball from Italy more than 20 times (21), the best figure for a full-back in the last three editions of the tournament. His work combines with that of Carvajal who adds another 21 recoveries spread over both matches and explains La Roja’s good defensive performance.
His curly hair seemed to multiply along the left wing of the Veltins Arena and it was torture for Federico Chiesa. If because of his hairstyle he is compared to Supporting Actor Bob on social networks, the Juventus attacker was his particular Bart Simpson since he made him live a nightmare by playing with every fear of Enrico’s son. Called to be Italy’s star, this was totally nullified by the side raised between Espanyol and Barcelona.
His great match did not go unnoticed by the spectators and neither by Luis de la Fuente, who, asked about the defender’s performance, decided to praise him. “He played a great game. Cucurella knows what I ask of him and what he can give me, like everyone else. He is a magnificent player, who performs and is competitive,” he assured.
The defender turned doubts into certainties and suspicions into flattery and he no longer has any ‘haters’ left. Honoring the legacy of Joan Capdevila, pointed out by the transalpine press as the weak side of champion Spain and who ended up standing out before the azzurri, the left flank was once again impregnable against Italy. Against Albania he can take a well-deserved rest and barring a surprise, the round of 16 awaits him.
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