Marc Cucurella (Alella, Barcelona, July 22, 1998) He has become one of the most charismatic players on the team. He arrived at the Euros as a rookie with only four caps for Spain. And he emerged elevated as a national idol and became the soul of the celebration. Now he faces his first World Cup and his gaze is full of emotions, of dreams, of enjoying something that only 1,248 footballers out of the millions in the world will be able to do.
Ask. If you could talk to that Marc Cucurella who was starting to play football, what would you say to him?
Q. I would thank him for the effort he made and tell him that everything he worked and struggled for was worth it. You will have the opportunity to play in a World Cup.
Q. Is this the moment you are most excited about in your career?
R. Yes, with great enthusiasm. It is very difficult to be in a World Cup. All my teammates who have played have told me that there is nothing greater than playing in a World Cup and now I have the opportunity. I am very happy and, above all, eager to get started.
Q. How do you imagine that moment before the debut against Cape Verde?
R. Don’t know. I try to go day by day and enjoy everything. Upon arriving in Chattanooga, when we saw the hotel customized for us and our personalized rooms, I remember being a little nervous. I felt that tingling and I think it’s a very nice feeling. It will be something similar, although until you are there you don’t know how to explain it.
Q. Have you packed anything special for this World Cup?
R. I carry several things. I have some keychains that my children made for me. I’m also wearing my wife’s pajama shirt, which accompanied me to the Euro Cup, and I’ve put it back in my suitcase to see if it brings the same luck. Also, the iPad and some things to pass the time.
I brought my wife’s pajama shirt, who accompanied me to the Euro Cup, and I put it back in my suitcase to see if it brings the same luck.
Marc Cucurella.
Q. Are you sleeping well?
R. Yes. It was difficult at first, but now I have been sleeping very well for several days. We try not to sleep too much at midday so as not to go to bed late. I sleep straight through the night.
I sleep all night straight
Q. What do you do when you are not training? How do you spend your free time in these first days?
R. We play Nintendo with each other. Yesterday we also went to play golf. They are giving us permission to leave and, at the moment, it is not taking long.
Q. Is Spain also a favorite when you play the console?
R. Yes. Mostly we play in teams. I don’t play Play much. Now I have it here because they brought it to me and we are going to start playing.
Q. How do you get to this World Cup from a football point of view?
R. Good. I think it has been a complicated year, not ideal, but I am happy. I come from a good year and several positive seasons. We arrived at the World Cup in good shape and, above all, with great enthusiasm.
Q. You already know what it means to compete and be a champion in the United States. Does that Club World Cup experience help you?
R. For me it’s like coming back. Last year I was here and experienced the heat, the travel and everything that comes with a competition in this country. In that aspect I am used to it. Being able to return to that stadium would be very nice. I remember that it is an impressive stadium.
Q. Have you given any advice to your colleagues to adapt to the heat, humidity and the particularities of this country?
A. I have told you that what we are experiencing here is nothing compared to what is going to come. I don’t know if it’s because this city is not one of the hottest, but I remember being very hot. Furthermore, in some stadiums the air flows less and the thermal sensation increases. It’s complicated, but we’ll get used to it little by little. We are lucky that the first two games will be in indoor stadiums and that will also help us.
I have told my colleagues that what we are experiencing here with the heat is nothing compared to what is going to come.
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Q. Are you aware of the enthusiasm that this selection has aroused among fans?
R. Yes. I know that people are very excited and I like that. It is something nice that we have earned and it is nice to feel that affection. We will try to do our best, give everything we have and see how far we can go.
People are very excited and I like that.
Q. They have gone from not being among the favorites before the Euro Cup to now appearing in all the pools. Does that add pressure?
A. I don’t notice that pressure. We are very excited. We know that we have a great team and that we have the possibility of doing something important. Right now everything comes down to enthusiasm and desire.
I don’t notice that pressure. We are very excited
Q. What do your English colleagues tell you?
R. I don’t talk to them much. They also have a great team. I have seen that they try to remove themselves from the role of favorites, but they have a very strong selection. They have reached many finals in recent years and the current coach has done many things well. Although there is criticism in England about the call, I understand what he has done. It is difficult to have many stars on the bench. Perhaps it is better to leave some out and bring in players to help create a group. I think they can come out stronger in that aspect. For me they are one of the favorites.
Q. Your name sounds increasingly louder. How do you manage to abstract yourself from everything that is said about you?
R. Reading little and paying little attention. My agents already know not to tell me anything. I am very happy where I am and so is my family. Whatever has to come, will come. Right now I am focused on the World Cup and enjoying this experience, which is the first and who knows if it will be the last.
Q. Are you attracted to Xabi Alonso’s project?
R. Yes. I have spoken with him and he gave me a lot of confidence. Furthermore, I have spoken with Grimaldo and Borja, who have worked with him, and they have spoken very well to me. The project seems very interesting.
Q. Do you dare to make any predictions for this World Cup?
R. Don’t kill me yet. Let’s wait.
Q. In a recent interview you talked about the human factor of the footballer. It is often forgotten that there is a person behind the player.
R. Yes. Too much is allowed in football. It’s a shame because it is a sport that many people love, but sometimes limits are exceeded that should not be exceeded. People have to understand that we are not robots, that we also have good days, bad days or go through difficult times. When that is better understood, everything will be more positive.
Too much is allowed in football. People have to understand that we are not robots
Q. Your family has moved to be close during the World Cup. Is the most difficult thing about these long concentrations the distance from them?
R. Yes. The good thing is that they have come to Miami. We are still far away, but this World Cup has that difficulty: the distances are enormous and it is not easy for families to travel. Many days pass between games, they don’t have too many things to do and they can’t be traveling constantly. It’s complicated, but you have to adapt. The federation is helping us a lot and provides us with many facilities so that we are as comfortable as possible.
Q. With so much free time, do you consume a lot of social media?
R. More than I would like. We have a lot of free time and in the end you end up going on TikTok and watching videos. Not excessively either. I consider myself quite normal in that regard. If I have something better to do, I do it, but it’s inevitable because we don’t have many alternatives here either.
I consume more social networks than I would like
Q. How do you experience the competition with Grimaldo, taking into account the great friendship you have?
R. It is an unusual situation. There could be some rivalry to see who plays and who doesn’t, but from the beginning we had a very good connection and it will continue to be that way. Whoever plays, the other will be supporting them. We both know that the most important thing is the team.
Marc Cucurrell, posing during the interview.
Q. We were talking before about the media impact of Spain. How is Lamine Yamal experiencing everything around him?
R. Very calm and focused on his recovery. He’s really looking forward to it, like all of us. For many it is our first World Cup and it is a unique experience. I hope he arrives at the first game in the best condition because today he is one of the best players in the world.
P. Luis de la Fuente commented that sometimes he has to put on earplugs because of the music in the locker room. What does it usually play and who is the DJ?
R. The music we listen to is very different from what Luis likes, but we try to have a little bit of everything. There are more classic players and, when they pick up the Lamine or Nico controller, more modern things sound, songs that are successful on TikTok and that type of music. I adapt to everything. I like all the styles.
When Lamine or Nico take the control, more modern things sound, songs that are successful on TikTok and that type of music. I adapt to everything.
Q. One last one. He gave an assist in the Euro Cup final. If you scored the decisive goal in a World Cup final, what would you do?
R. I can’t even imagine it. It would be something epic. I hope it happens and we’ll see what happens at that moment.
