Spain star savages Gary Neville as ITV pundit left red in the face

Marc Cucurella clearly didn’t forget the criticisms of Gary Neville as he fired back at the pundit after Spain’s Euro 2024 final glory. The left-back played a pivotal role in the final, teeing up Mikel Oyarzabal to sweep home from close range and seal a late 2-1 win.

It capped a superb individual tournament for the Chelsea player, who proved a surprise package in Germany after struggling in the Premier League for the past two seasons.

His tournament was despite scepticism from the likes of Neville, who had earlier cited the 25-year-old as one of the factors that would stop the Spanish lifting a fourth Euros crown.

“I think he (Cucurella) is one of the reasons I think Spain probably can’t go all the way,” Neville had told ITV. It appeared that the defender had ignored the jibe, only to take to social media in the immediate aftermath of the final.

He shared an image of Neville with his previous quote attached, and wrote: “We went all the way, Gary. Thanks for your support.” The post came attached with four emojis – a heart, trophy, Spanish flag, and a winking face blowing a kiss.

Neville hasn’t been the only ex-England international to write off Cucurella. Live on ITV commentary, Lee Dixon had claimed that winger Bukayo Saka would have been ‘excited’ at seeing his opposite number’s name on the team-sheet, having given him problems at club level last season.

Having accused the ex-Brighton man as not “not being great”, Dixon did later have to eat humble pie. He admitted that Cucurella had played a pivotal role in the final, not least his contribution to Oyarzabal’s winning strike.

The player also uploaded a post on X of him joyously lifting the trophy. The time there was no goading though, just the caption “CHAMPIONS OF EUROPE” alongside a series of trophy and flag emojis.

And new Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca will now be hoping his player can replicate his international form at club level. Cucurella has made 59 appearances since his £55million move from Brighton, in 2022, scoring once.

Last season, he was reportedly on the brink of a loan move for Manchester United after underwhelming at Stamford Bridge. However, the two clubs could not reach an agreement over a deal.

But the injury problems of Ben Chilwell meant Cucurella was then given an extended run under Mauricio Pochettino. And he will return to London this week having enhanced his reputation in a Spain shirt, and offered hope he can replicate the kind of form that saw him shine with Brighton in the 2021/22 campaign.