Another Injury Sparks Alarm in Spain Ahead of the World Cup

The wave of injuries hitting the Spanish national team in recent weeks, just months before the World Cup, has claimed another victim: Marc Cucurella. The left-back joins the likes of Pedri, Mikel Merino, and Samu Omorodion on the list of unavailable players.

The situation surrounding the 27-year-old Chelsea left-back came as a surprise, as the defender did not appear to have any physical issues. However, he did not return for the second half of the match against Leeds, being replaced by Jorrel Hato. His absence was felt immediately, as the opposition, the "Whites," managed to equalize with two goals scored specifically from the zone the Spaniard was supposed to cover.

Initially, it was believed the substitution was merely workload management by Liam Rosenior, but the English manager confirmed an injury. "It's too early to say how serious the injury is for Marc," Rosenior stated, adding that the player is "completely ruled out" for the upcoming FA Cup match against Hull City.

The manager added that the Spaniard is under observation. "We are conducting scans and evaluations. We hope his absence won't be too long," he concluded. This marks the first time Marc Cucurella has returned to the treatment room since undergoing ankle surgery in December 2023. With over 2,600 minutes of play accumulated this season, the player's body has ultimately given way.