Micah Richards hailed Marc Cucurella’s performance as “outstanding” as Spain beat France on Tuesday night to advance to the final of Euro 2024.
Cucurella has taken his fine end of season form onto the international stage and has been a standout player not just for Spain but also at the tournament.
The 25-year-old has started every game in Germany bar the final group match against Albania which he was rested for, and is now just one win away from becoming a European Champion.
Richards praises Cucurella
Cucurella has formed a brilliant partnership with Nico Williams down Spain’s left hand side and it’s great to see the Spaniard finally getting the recognition his performances deserve.
Gary Neville said at the start of the tournament he felt Cucurella would be one of the reasons that Spain wouldn’t go all the way in Germany, but the former Brighton man has certainly proved him wrong.
BBC Pundit Richards was full of praise for Cucurella after his performance against France and added he’s had an outstanding tournament.
“I thought Cucurella today was outstanding,” he told BBC One.
“I think he’s had an outstanding tournament and he’s key to this team in the way they set up.”
Cucurella’s resurgence has been quite something given the struggles he’s had since his big money move from Brighton in 2022.
He was booed at times by his own supporters during his first season at Stamford Bridge, but he’s now performing like the player Chelsea paid the money for and is showing he can do it on the biggest of stages.
The left back is set for a key role next season under Enzo Maresca, who likes his fullbacks to invert into midfield, which Cucurella has demonstrated he’s more than capable of, and there’s every chance he starts next season as the club’s first choice left back, and that would be some turnaround.
