Great American Cartoonists 2024-07-05 Great American Cartoonists - Last update images today Great American Cartoonists Navarro Ousts Gauff, Reaches Wimbledon Quarters Marc Cucurella has said Spain have benefitted from being seen as outsiders before Euro 2024 kicked off as they prepare to face France in the semifinal in Munich on Tuesday. Spain were not considered among the outright favourites at the start of the tournament, but they are now heavily fancied to go all the way in Germany after winning five games in a row and eliminating the hosts in Stuttgart on Friday. "Within football, there has long been respect for Spain, how we play and the players we have, but maybe coming in [to Euro 2024] as outsiders helped us," Cucurella said in a news conference on Sunday. "We started with the confidence of having nothing to lose. Now that confidence has grown and we are in the key moment of the tournament. "I knew we had a great team, which has been proven. We have fought so hard to be here and now we need one last big effort. Two more steps." After beating Croatia, Italy, Albania and Georgia, three-time European champions Spain faced their toughest test yet against Germany, eventually winning 2-1 after extra time. Germany, though, were angered by referee Antony Taylor's decision not to give a penalty before Mikel Merino's 119th minute winner when a Jamal Musiala shot struck Cucurulla's hand, which was by his side. It led Germany coach Julian Nagelsmann to call for AI to be used to help make decisions related to possible handballs in the area. "It hit my hand but I saw the referee quickly said 'no, no,'" Cucurella said of the moment. "That made me calm. If the experts have since said it's not handball, too, then it's not handball and that's that. "I understand there's a doubt, we are tired of seeing handballs, some yes, some no. But if Germany won, we would not be talking about it. "We could have complained about [Toni] Kroos not getting booked earlier [for a challenge on Pedri] and then maybe he's sent off later. In the end, we scored one more goal than them and went through." Cucurella has been one of the revelations of the tournament for Spain. Few expected him to make the squad months ago and it was not certain he would start ahead of Alejandro Grimaldo in the opener against Croatia. "Possibly, yes," the Chelsea defender responded when asked if he felt his reputation has been boosted in his homeland on the back of his performances. "When you go abroad it's difficult, people lose track [of you] a little. It's normal, people watch Spanish football and the teams they have supported since they were young. "The praise is all welcome. It does not matter if it's arriving too soon or too late, it's better if people are saying good things about you. "There is a lot hard work in silence behind it which is now bearing fruit. I am happy to be here with the national team and now all that's left is to take the final steps [to win the tournament]." France stand between Spain and a possible final against either England or the Netherlands in Berlin on July 14. Spain will be without the suspended Dani Carvajal and Robin Le Normand against France, while Pedri has been ruled out of the rest of the tournament with a knee injury. "We will have to be very focused against France, above all when attacking because we will have to be careful when we lose the ball," Cucurella said. "They have quick players in attack and can exploit that. We will have to be focused for the 90 minutes or however long the game lasts. If we can win the ball back quickly, I think we have a good chance." 9781529153873 Jacket Large 2024 Platform 611k2h5IAiL. SS400 Trump Back 0 ?itok=5nN ArB4 ErzlPeuVQAA6Flx USATSI 19719258 RDXOHQOWYNAHFEZYTFAVCP4ZR4 Gv012523dAPR 5%2Bpatrick%2Bchappatte 1205542 ?d=1560x1217 08 Insider Chappatte SuperJumbo D7763279fb8983d73984e8722de39fb5 16899236 Web1 1 Rivers ?crop=1 TMC TMC L Politicalcartoons 0213 WRE0128536974 Oped01 010223 245224 RGB ?w=1860 Presidential Race Usa War Chest Election Campaign Campaign Donor Presidential Race 2024 Presidential Bid CS556713 Low Sbr110720dAPR ?w=1860 Mra110720dAPR ?w=620 98602528 P05lxxs9 ?url=https Static.politico.com 70 E4 C27621504d259716e037ecd5660a 0 Carousel Teaser Right Toon 02 232706 RGB ?w=620 Rob Rogers Cartoon Img Latest Cartoon Parsons 1024x731 Cartoon Joe Biden 1024x710 5f03761ba4f96.image ?resize=1200%2C1026 Mrz072719dAPR1 ?w=1860 372cabcc 55d4 47b9 9088 Db2065532741 060121ThompsonBiden ?width=1320&height=996&fit=crop&format=pjpg&auto=webp Sb110421dapc ?update Time=1671651125406&size=responsiveGallery