Cucurella hopes Spain meet Argentina at World Cup after Finalissima cancellation | OneFootball

Cucurella said Spain were eager to play the Finalissima and hopes they can face Argentina at the World Cup as La Roja begin their final pre-tournament camp.

According to El Periódico Mediterráneo, the Finalissima between Spain and Argentina, planned for Doha this month, was suspended due to conflict in the Gulf region, and Spain tried to play it but Argentina set obstacles. Spain host Serbia in Villarreal on Friday, then face Egypt at Espanyol’s stadium in Barcelona next week, before the World Cup in the United States, Mexico and Canada next summer.

Cucurella accepted the Finalissima could not be staged for different reasons, and said a meeting with Argentina at the tournament would be a great match.

He hopes to return to MetLife Stadium in New Jersey for the final, the same venue where he won the Club World Cup with Chelsea last summer, calling it a privilege to have that opportunity.

He noted injuries reflect a punishing schedule, with some players having had two straight summers without a break and potentially a third. Even so, he said the motivation of a World Cup is unique and there is time to recover important players and arrive with maximum energy.

At the unveiling of new federation sponsor El Pozo, which will back Spain until 2030, director of football Aitor Karanka and Real Madrid’s Dean Huijsen also spoke. Huijsen said he is proud to return, acknowledged a recent dip in form, and feels he is now at the required level. He maintained Federico Valverde’s derby dismissal should have been a yellow, and joked about adding a ham carver to the dressing room, with Cucurella noting shared jamón is part of the squad’s post-match ritual.

Source: El Periódico Mediterráneo