Marc Cucurella’s partner has confirmed that the Chelsea defender has ‘promised’ his Spain team-mates that he will dye his hair bright red if they beat England to the Euro 2024 title this weekend.
The 25-year-old came in for heavy criticism across a tough season with Chelsea last term but has established himself as one of Spain’s key players in Germany, starting all but one of his nation’s matches en route to the final.
After starring in Tuesday’s semi-final win over France, Cucurella is expected to continue his run in the side against England, with Spain set to compete in their first final at a major tournament in 12 years.
Luis de la Fuente’s men have been far and away the standout team in the tournament and enter the Berlin showdown as the favourites to get their hands on the trophy.
And while their opponents, England, appear to be peaking at exactly the right time, it seems confidence and morale is at an all-time high inside the Spanish camp heading into Sunday’s showpiece.
‘The boys are elated,’ Cucurella’s girlfriend, Claudia Rodriguez, told Espejo Publico when asked whether she had managed to to speak with the full-back.
‘I called Marc when they were back on the bus [after the defeat of France] and they had a huge party going on. They were super happy.
‘They deserve it and hopefully on Sunday we can win the title.’
Asked to describe her own experience of Spain’s success in Germany, Rodriguez told Espejo Publico: ‘Super good.
‘The truth is that it is a source of great pride to see him wearing the Spanish national team shirt and to see him doing what he is doing at the Euros.
‘It is wonderful to see how far the boys have come and how they have brought the country back together.’
While Cucurella has far exceeded expectations with his individual showings at the Euros, the left-back found himself the target of boos and jeers during Spain’s semi-final victory over France in Munich – leaving many viewers confused.
It soon became apparent that the culprits were not disgruntled French fans, rather neutral German supporters venting their anger, with the defender escaping punishment for handball in last Friday’s quarter-final.
‘At first, I didn’t understand it because I thought it was coming from the French and I didn’t understand what had happened with the French,’ Rodriquez added.