Chelsea star leaves Gary Neville with egg on his face after brutal ITV prediction

As Spain get ready to face England in the Euro 2024 final, Marc Cucurella would do well to remind himself of just how far he has come. The Chelsea left-back was the subject of brutal comments from pundit Gary Neville, who suggested Luis de la Fuente’s side wouldn’t win the tournament with him in the team. Now, they are just one victory away from doing just that.

Cucurella has started all but one of La Roja’s matches in the tournament, with his absence against Albania seen more as a way of De la Fuente rotating the squad rather than dropping the Chelsea left-back for poor form.

Not just that, the 25-year-old has been a solid figure in their four-man defence. On several occasions, his tenacity and committed defensive work has proved crucial in Spain’s route to the final.

It comes after Neville gave his verdict on Cucurella before the tournament, predicting Spain would not go all the way to the final due to their left-back troubles.

“We didn’t think he’d play,” Neville told ITV Sport in June. “He’s not been convincing at Chelsea, he’s played a few games towards the end of the season. He’s aggressive, he’s tenacious, he’s a busy little full-back.”

Cucurella has had a tough time at Stamford Bridge since his £62million switch from Brighton in August 2023, a move that many considered to be way beyond his market value. The fans have booed him at times, although his performances under Mauricio Pochettino at the tail-end of last season perhaps helped him win some over – but not Neville.

“That price tag still, to be fair, astounds everybody I think to this day,” the former Manchester United defender added.

“The Spanish defence has got a lot of experience now but there’s something just missing from Spain that makes you feel like they’re [not] going to go all the way. “And I have to say, him [Cucurella] being at left-back is probably another example of why we think that.”

The unavoidable fact is that Cucurella has been selected by De la Fuente and completed 90 per cent of his passes, completing 2.4 tackles a game and won 1.8 aerial challenges per game despite his relatively short frame. He has kept in-form players such as Alex Grimaldo – who starred for Bayer Leverkusen in winning the Bundesliga – out of the team.

Cucurella’s performances have even convinced Chelsea to keep him as part of the squad next season under new boss Enzo Maresca when, in January, the club were desperately trying to flog him to Saudi Arabian clubs at a massive loss and even offered him to Manchester United on loan.

Now, he is one game away from being crowned European champion in a Spain team where only Unai Simon and Rodri have played more minutes. If Cucurella impresses again in the final, Neville may be left with an egg on his face for writing off the revitalised left-back.