3 min learnJun 16, 2026 04:02 PM IST
Soccer brings out all kinds of feelings, and a participant doesn’t essentially should play badly to be booed – by followers of his personal crew. Simply ask Marc Cucurella.
Not with the ability to dispatch World Cup debutants Cape Verde of their event opener in Atlanta would have been irritating, and being repeatedly jeered by La Roja supporters all through the sport wouldn’t have made the Spanish left-back really feel any higher, regardless that he was one of many higher performers on the day, being resolute on the again, creating possibilities and offering an attacking outlet.
The particular therapy had nothing to do with that sport. The truth is, the Barcelona followers within the crowd had been reacting to, of their ebook, the last word act of ‘treason’ – agreeing to hitch Actual Madrid – for which Cucurella was branded ‘Judas’ in a single day.
The defender, a product of Barcelona’s academy system, was on the membership until 2020, after which he had stints with Getafe and Eibar in Spain earlier than shifting to England to play for Brighton and, since 2022, for Chelsea. The Catalan followers wouldn’t have minded however going to Los Blancos can be the last word betrayal. His reception on Monday exhibits that membership loyalties run deep inside followers even when they’re at a World Cup supporting their nationwide crew.
Nevertheless, Cucurella has some technique to go earlier than he enters the league of Luis Figo in prompting antagonism amongst Barca followers. When the Portuguese returned to Camp Nou as a Actual participant in 2002 – after a distinguished stint with the Catalan membership – he had plastic bottles, cash, a whiskey glass and even a severed pig’s head thrown at him when he went to take a nook kick.
Cucurella’s reception was comparatively gentle as he was the goal of ‘solely’ taunts and boos.
The 27-year-old Spanish footballer already had a historical past in being booed – however that was by opposition followers. In the course of the 2024 European Championship quarterfinal in opposition to Germany, Cucurella dealt with the ball inside his personal penalty space, however the referee didn’t award a penalty. Spain went on to win the match and the title, with UEFA later admitting {that a} spot-kick ought to have been given. German followers haven’t let Cucurella neglect that incident since.
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When he returned to Stuttgart – the scene of the crime, so to talk – final 12 months for the Nations League semifinal in opposition to France, the German viewers proved that soccer followers have lengthy reminiscences.
Spain has a protracted technique to go within the ongoing World Cup and Cucurella higher brace himself for extra tough therapy – from his personal crew’s followers – no matter how he performs on the pitch.