Watch Spain star Unai Simon score horror own goal as keeper lets halfway line back-pass creep under foot against Croatia
SPAIN goalkeeper Unai Simon gifted Croatia a 1-0 lead in their Euro 2020 last-16 clash with what’s quickly being dubbed the ‘howler of the tournament’.
The Spaniards had utterly dominated the opening 20 minutes of the game, with nearly 80 per cent of the ball.
But Athletic Bilbao ace Simon – preferred to David De Gea this summer – allowed a 45-yard back-pass from Pedri to sneak past him and into the back of the net to give Croatia a shock 1-0 lead.
Unfortunately for the Barcelona midfielder, he was credited with the own goal, with the pass deemed to be hitting the target and Simon’s mis-control merely a deflection.
Incredibly, the error was the NINTH own goal at Euro 2020 – as many as in ALL previous European Championships combined, dating back to 1960.
On the gaffe, Dion Dublin told BBC Radio 5 Live: “What a mistake from the goalkeeper.
“His concentration levels drop. He takes his eye off the ball, he’s not even looking at the ball.
“If you’re in any doubt at all you make sure you get the biggest part of your body behind the ball.
“He switches off.
“I think it’s the first think that the keeper’s had to do of any seriousness whatsoever.”
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Ex-England star Izzy Christiansen added: “My word. The ball has travelled at least 45 yards.
“Yes, the ball was bouncing, but there is no excuse. The ball was even in the shadow on this pitch.
“You will never see a more bizarre own goal than that.
“Complete lapse in concentration and he’s taken his eye off of it on the last second.”
Fans also reacted in their thousands on Twitter to share their disbelief.. and poke fun.
Specsavers event tweeted their Spanish colleagues the word ‘hi’ as they got in on the jokes.
A fuming Spain fan wrote: “Even if we go through, Unai Simon should never play another game in professional football.”
One viewer joked: “What a historic blunder by Unai Simon – compared to this, Karius looks like Prime Lev Yashin.”
Another fan quickly changed Simon’s Wikipedia page to show him playing for Croatia with ‘one cap’ and ‘one goal’ to his name.
But Graeme Souness, speaking at half-time on ITV, defended Simon, saying: “Every professional footballer has done it, apart from Messi. The spin has taken it away from him.”
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