Marc Cucurella receives praise from Spain coach amid Real Madrid struggles

Spain national team coach Luis de la Fuente has praised Marc Cucurella following his performance in Spain’s 4-1 victory over Croatia. De la Fuente described the defender as ‘amazing’ and noted that several players undergo a transformation when playing for the national team, often performing at a significantly higher level than they do for their clubs due to the comfort provided by the team's specific playing style.

This praise contrasts with Cucurella’s recent club form at Real Madrid. Since joining the club from Chelsea, the defender has faced scrutiny and criticism for his individual performances and the team's defensive struggles. Former Spanish goalkeeper Santiago Cañizares highlighted this discrepancy, stating that Cucurella showed more involvement in his minutes against Croatia than in eight matches for Real Madrid.