Cucurella and Merino: Return to Stuttgart - the Nations League spectacle!

Cucurella and Merino: Return to Stuttgart - the Nations League spectacle!

Marc Cucurella and Mikel Merino are back in Stuttgart to face the challenge of the Nations League semi-final against France. The game will take place on June 5, 2025 at 9 p.m. and will be broadcast live on Erste and in the live stream. The two players, who have faced difficult decisions and big moments in the past, prepared well for this encounter.

Cucurella's return is marked by mixed emotions. The player who was injured during a game against Germany has opened up about the circumstances: "I didn't do anything bad," he said. The incident took place on July 5, 2024 when a shot from Jamal Musiala hit him on the hand, breaking the hearts of German fans as they complained about the referee's decision due to a penalty not given. Germany unfortunately lost the following game 1-2, with Merino scoring the decisive goal in the 119th minute.

The path to the semi-finals

Spain has experienced many ups and downs in the Nations League. In the quarterfinals against the Netherlands, Mikel Merino saved his team with a goal in stoppage time. After another tense game in which Spain fell behind, Merino equalized after the Dutch goalkeeper saved a shot. The quarter-final win cemented Spain's position after previously maintaining a 16-game unbeaten streak, the last defeat being a 1-0 against Colombia in March 2024.

The anticipation of the semi-final in Stuttgart is overshadowed by the serious absence of Rodri, who tore his cruciate ligament and cannot play. Merino and Martin Zubimendi will form the central midfield axis, with Zubimendi often taking on the organizing role. Zubimendi has also attracted interest from Arsenal, who are looking for new talent for the coming season.

Career highlights and challenges

Mikel Merino, who moved to Borussia Dortmund from CA Osasuna in 2016, had limited success there and later moved to Real Sociedad where he excelled. In the 2024/25 season he scored seven goals in the Premier League as a “false nine” and won the European Championship title with Spain last year. Cucurella, who meanwhile won the Conference League with Chelsea and scored crucial goals in the Premier League, reflected on his memories of Euro 2024, which was a success for Spain.

The expectations for the players are high, especially for Cucurella, who lives with the label of the “bogeyman”. He expects to be booed again, but also sees positive aspects in his role. With an exciting future ahead of them, fans will be watching the game on June 5th with great interest.