Marc Cucurella buried coin before Spain final after Capdevila revived 2010 ritual

21 Jul 2026, 12:52 am IST|
Marc Cucurella buried coin before Spain final after Capdevila revived 2010 ritual
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Marc Cucurella placed a coin under the turf prior to Spain’s World Cup final, a move that has been linked to a practice originating from the country’s 2010 victory. Former defender Joan Capdevila disclosed that he asked Cucurella to continue the superstition. Spain secured the trophy with a 1-0 extra-time victory over Argentina.

The episode was framed as a continuation of a tradition that dates back to Spain’s 2010 triumph, with Capdevila identified as the figure who encouraged the gesture. Capdevila, who played in that earlier era, has been credited with prompting the current player to adopt the ritual. The explanation presented ties the act directly to the earlier successful campaign rather than to any newly devised routine.

Cucurella’s action drew attention because it was performed immediately before the final, and the link to 2010 was emphasised in accounts of the moment. Reports indicated that Capdevila spoke with Cucurella about the practice, asking him to keep the custom alive for the latest Spain squad. The choice to place a coin beneath the pitch was described specifically as a lucky charm tied to that past triumph.

Details circulated after the match reiterated the origin of the superstition and Capdevila’s role in reviving it for the current team. Coverage noted the historical connection without suggesting any alteration to on-field tactics or personnel decisions. The ritual was presented purely as a symbolic act rooted in memory of the 2010 success.

Spain’s 1-0 extra-time victory over Argentina closed the tournament and was the result most noted in reports of the final. The outcome reaffirmed the link between the revived ritual and the team’s ultimate success on the day, as described by those recounting the moment. Accounts combined the sporting result with the anecdote about the coin to explain why the gesture received attention.

Observers relayed the account of Capdevila requesting Cucurella maintain the superstition and the subsequent coin-burying before the final. That sequence — the request, the act, and Spain’s 1-0 extra-time win over Argentina — formed the core narrative reported about the incident. The ritual was thus presented as a direct line from the 2010 triumph to the most recent title-clinching match.

Marc CucurellaJoan CapdevilaSpainArgentina2010