'I wet my pants!' - Marc Cucurella admits Euro 2024 fear after controversial moment on Spain's road to European glory

The Spain left-back has reflected on what he felt when referee Anthony Taylor did not award Germany a penalty after Jamal Musiala's shot struck his outstretched arm with their quarter-final at 1-1 in extra time. Luis de la Fuente's team went onto win the contest 2-1 thanks to Mikel Merino's last-gasp header, much to Cucurella's relief.

The 26-year-old told Gazzetta dello Sport: "Mamma mia, what a shock. I wet my pants. I looked at the referee and saw him say firmly: 'No penalty!' I told myself, 'Relax', but I couldn't do that until the game resumed."

Spain went onto win the Euros this summer but it could have been very different if Taylor had pointed to the spot or VAR Stuart Attwell had intervened. It was later ruled by UEFA's Referee Committee that Germany should have been awarded a penalty - something Cucurella that left bemused.

“And now they come and say it was a penalty. Who benefits from that?" he added.

Cucurella could feature for Spain in their next Nations League match on Tuesday at home to Serbia. The Blues defender was an unused substitute in Saturday's 1-0 victory against Denmark.