Euro 2020: Fans poke fun at Unai Simon’s HORROR own goal for Spain in clash against Croatia

Unai Simon’s horrendous own goal against Croatia has been ruthlessly mocked on social media after he gifted the opener in Spain’s last-16 Euro 2020 clash, with fans claiming the country’s No.1 jersey was ‘cursed’.

The Athletic Bilbao shot-stopper wanted to ground to swallow him whole after he badly miscontrolled a backwards pass by midfielder Pedri from the half-way line, with the ball deflecting off his foot and bobbling into the back of the net in the first own goal by a keeper in the history of the competition. 

The mistake in the 20th minute of the game saw Spain concede a completely needless goal, leaving fans stunned at the embarrassing nature of the goal, while also taking the opportunity to mock the goalkeeper.

Fans on social media have poked fun at the Athletic Bilbao after his glaring error in Denmark

Many joked that David De Gea (L) and Kepa Arrizabalaga (R) would be laughing after Simon joined them in making a blunder

Spain have a history of shaky keepers, with Manchester United’s David de Gea guilty of a handful of errors, while Chelsea’s Kepa Arrizabalaga has also been widely criticised for costly mistakes.

And supporters were quick to group Simon into their unfortunate catagory as some joked that the pair would have been amused by Simon’s blunder, as a fan posted a picture of two men in fits of laughter.

Another said De Gea had ‘inspired a new generation of Spanish goalkeepers’, while one joked the United star could be on hand to offer his advice to Simon.

‘If anyone can offer Unai Simon some advice right now, speaking from experience… it’s David de Gea,’ as he included a picture of the pair on the pitch.

One fan wrote: ‘De Gea, Kepa and now Unai Simon. This goalkeeper position for Spain is absolutely cursed ever since Casillas retired.’

The own goal has initially been attributed to Pedri after his pass back to Simon, despite replays showing the ball did take a nick off the goalkeeper’s boot, and a social media user claimed it was harsh on the Barcelona star considering it was his keeper’s mistake. 

‘Sucks that Pedri has been credited with an own goal all because Unai Simon forgot that he was a professional footballer,’ he joked.

Supporters claimed the Spanish goalkeeping slot was ‘cursed’ after Simon’s latest mistake 

To Simon’s credit, he did recover from the glaring mistake and produced a number of top saves as Spain came from behind to go 3-1 up – although the Croatians did net two late goals to make it 3-3 and take the game to extra time. 

BBC Pundits in the studio for the game were shocked by Simon’s error, with Dion Dublin accusing him of losing concentration.

‘What a mistake from the goalkeeper,’ he said. ‘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.  

Simon did recover after letting the first goal in and produced some fine saves in the match

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.

‘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.’