Unai Simon gifts Croatia the lead after BIZARRE own goal

Unai Simon gifts Croatia the lead after BIZARRE own goal as Spain’s goalkeeper lets Pedri’s backpass from the HALFWAY LINE roll past him and into the empty net

  • Unai Simon conceded a shocking own goal to gift Croatia the lead over Spain
  • Pedri fired a backpass to his goalkeeper from the halfway line after 20 minutes
  • It looked an innocuous passage of play until the ball rolled over Simon’s foot 
  • It was the fourth own goal conceded by goalkeepers at Euro 2020 so far 
  • Find out the latest Euro 2020 news including fixtures, live action and results here

Unai Simon had a complete nightmare in goal as he let a backpass go straight over his foot and into the goal behind him to give Croatia the lead against Spian.

Luis Enrique’s side had dominated the early stages of the last 16 clash but could not find an opening goal, and they were punished for it in the most bizarre circumstances after 20 mins had been played.

Pedri passed the ball back to his goalkeeper from just inside Spain’s half, in what seemed to be a fairly innocuous passage of play.

Unai Simon had a moment to forget as he conceded a dreadful own goal against Croatia

The goalkeeper let the ball run straight over his foot into the goal to gift Croatia the lead

However, Simon took his eye off the ball and was left looking back in despair as the ball rolled into the empty net.

The goalkeeper would have been grateful to Pablo Sarabia, who equalised for Spain to send the sides in at half time all square.

BBC commentator Dion Dublin said of the own goal: ‘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. 

The goalkeeper’s teammates tried to encourage him as he cut a dejected figure after the goal

‘I think it’s the first think that the keeper’s had to do of any seriousness whatsoever.’

Graeme Souness had some sympathy for Simon, believing every player, aside from one notable exception, has made a mistake after losing their concentration for a split second.

‘The pass back is quite fierce, it’s spinning, it bounces just before him – I’m making all sorts of excuses for the goalkeeper,’ Souness said.

Simon would have been relieved to see Pablo Sarabia equalise for the Spanish before the break

‘I said to the guys, ‘we’ve all done that.’ I suggested Messi has even done that, but Ashley (Cole) said ‘no he hasn’t.’

‘It bounces just before him, he’s taken his eye off for it for a brief minute. I’m not willing to cut him too much slack because it’s a big occasion and he should have been fully concentrated, but we’ve all done it – every professional footballer has done it, except Messi.’ 

Ian Wright was in less forgiving mood, commenting: ‘But goalkeepers can’t do it. He’s more thinking about the next pass rather than controlling it first.’ 




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