It's tattoo time for Spain defender Cucurella, says coach

Spain defender Marc Cucurella is a man of his ‌word and must now go ahead with ​a ⁠tattoo of Spain coach Luis ‌de la Fuente's ‌face on his body after the European champions beat Argentina 1-0 on Sunday to ‌win the World Cup, the coach said.

Cucurella ⁠said earlier this week that he would tattoo the coach's face on his body if Spain lifted the trophy.

"I am too old for tattoos but my players are ​men of their word and I ‌know they will stick to their word," 65-year-old De la Fuente told a press ⁠conference. "They made a mistake and they will stick to it. I am not that ugly."

Luis de la Fuente lifts the Fifa World Cup Winner's Trophy after the team's victory at New York/ New Jersey Stadium. AFP

De ​la ‌Fuente has now led Spain to the ‌Euro 2024 title as well as the World Cup.

Asked which part of Cucurella's body he ‌would like ‌to see his ⁠face on, the coach said with ‌a smile: "Maybe a part of the body where it is not visible. ⁠But when you say something ​you have to stick to their word."

Cucurella praises Spain's 'incredible' defence after World Cup

Earlier, Cucurella hailed Spain's "incredible" defence after they won their second World Cup on Sunday with a 1-0 victory against Argentina.

Substitute Ferran Torres scored in the second period of extra-time as Spain finally broke down 10-man Argentina at the MetLife Stadium.

Coach Luis de la Fuente's team conceded just one goal in their eight games at the 2026 tournament — the fewest by any side in a World Cup-winning campaign.

Belgium were the only team to breach their defence, in the quarter-finals in Los Angeles.

"When you don't concede, I think it's much easier to win," said Cucurella, who has recently sealed a transfer from Chelsea to Real Madrid.

Marc Cucurella celebrates with the Fifa World Cup Winner's Trophy after the team's victory. AFP

"We've done an incredible job in that regard all tournament, and not just the defenders and the goalkeeper, because I think it's a team effort. "Ultimately it's about everyone making sacrifices. We attack together and defend together. That's one of the keys to this team."

The 27-year-old left-back said Spain, who also won the World Cup in 2010, could at last switch off.

"Now it's time to celebrate," he said. "We came here with a goal, spent 50 days, or nearly 50, in camp, and now it's time to be together, enjoy every moment, reminisce, and above all, switch off. "I think we deserve a good party."

Reuters / aFP