'Spain Are Furious' - Cucurella's Goal Ruled Out

Marc Cucurella's goal was disallowed for a foul on Austrian goalkeeper Alexander Schlager during their round of 32 match in Los Angeles, sparking outrage from the Spanish team.

In the sweltering afternoon heat of Los Angeles, a crucial Euro 2024 round of 32 clash between Spain and Austria took a controversial turn. In the 67th minute, with the score still 0-0, Spanish left-back Marc Cucurella latched onto a pass inside the box and fired a powerful shot into the net. However, after a VAR review, the referee ruled the goal out, judging that Cucurella had pushed Austrian goalkeeper Alexander Schlager before shooting. The decision ignited fury among the Spanish players. Captain Álvaro Morata charged towards the referee, joined by several teammates protesting the call. Spain coach Luis de la Fuente waved his arms in disbelief on the touchline, insisting it was a clean goal. Replays showed contact between Cucurella and Schlager, but Spain argued it was a normal shoulder-to-shoulder challenge. Tactically, the disallowed goal was a massive blow for Spain. They had dominated possession with 65% but struggled to break down Austria's compact defense. Cucurella's strike would have been the breakthrough. After the decision, Spain's composure wavered, and their subsequent attacks became rushed and less coherent. Austria, on the other hand, gained a surge of confidence. Schlager made several fine saves after the incident, keeping his clean sheet intact. Coach Ralf Rangnick remained calm on the sidelines, urging his players to stay focused. In the dying minutes, Austria nearly snatched a winner, but Spain goalkeeper Unai Simón was equal to the task. After the match, Spanish media lambasted the officiating. Marca's front page screamed 'Robbery,' while AS declared 'VAR Kills Football.' The Spanish Football Federation is preparing a formal complaint to UEFA, arguing the decision altered the outcome. However, some pundits noted that Cucurella's action did involve a push, and VAR intervention was within the rules. The draw leaves Spain's qualification hopes in the balance. They sit second in the group with four points, needing a win against Croatia in the final group game to guarantee progress. Austria, with two points, still have a chance. For Spain, the biggest challenge now is to recover mentally from this controversial setback. Regardless, this incident will be another talking point of the tournament. As VAR becomes ubiquitous, balancing rule enforcement with the flow of the game remains a challenge. Spain's anger is understandable, but football ultimately respects the referee's final decision.

'Spain Are Furious' - Cucurella's Goal Ruled Out

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