Spanish international Marc Cucurella became the target of boos on Croatian soil. At Poljud, he heard negative reactions from the stands with every touch of the ball, joining a list of countries where fans have shown disapproval of him.
The situation culminated in the 79th minute of the Croatia vs Spain match, which ended 1-2 in the Nations League. At that moment, Ivan Perišić brought down Cucurella from behind, after which the referee showed the Croatian international a second yellow, equivalent to a red card. The decision was confirmed after a review, as contact was made, leaving Croatia to play the last ten minutes with one player less.
Cucurella commented on the incident after the match. "I think it was clean. There was contact, it was a second yellow card, and there is nothing to complain about. They were fighting for their team and made it very difficult for us, but the important thing is how we reacted. Perhaps we were a little asleep at the start," the Spanish international said.
Cucurella's reputation among opposing fans began to build in the quarter-finals of the European Championship over two years ago. In the extra time of the match against Germany, with the score at 1-1, the ball hit Cucurella's hand inside the penalty area after a shot by Jamal Musiala, but referee Anthony Taylor did not award a penalty. Spain later advanced to the semi-finals with a goal from Mikel Merino.
A year later, during the finals of the League of Nations in Germany, fans booed him every time he received the ball. "They will probably boo me again, but I am ready. I did nothing wrong, the decision was not up to me," Cucurella said at the time.
The hostile reception was repeated in a friendly match this summer, when Cucurella made his debut for Real against Schalke. Fans at the stadium in Gelsenkirchen greeted him with loud boos as soon as he entered the game in the 61st minute. Following the German fans, the Croatian fans now showed a similar reaction.
