Spain’s Mikel Merino emulates dad’s 1991 purpose celebration at similar stadium at Euro 2024

Like father, like son.

Clenching his fist, Mikel Merino ran across the nook flag with a broad smile on his face earlier than placing his head again and letting out a yell of pure pleasure into the Stuttgart sky.

Merino had simply scored the last-gasp purpose in additional time that despatched Spain into the semifinals of the European Championship with a 2-1 win over host nation Germany after additional time in a pulsating match.

The 28-year-old Merino then recreated his father’s, Miguel Merino, celebration after he scored a purpose in the identical stadium greater than three a long time in the past.

“This stadium will need to have one thing that provides us luck,” the youthful Merino mentioned. “My father scored right here. It’s a particular stadium for us.”

Merino senior advised Spanish radio Cadena SER he felt “monumental” delight when his son scored and imitated his celebration.

That purpose got here in a UEFA Cup match between Miguel Merino’s Osasuna and Stuttgart in November 1991.

“The purpose was to make me look dangerous,” joked Miguel Merino, who by no means performed for Spain. “If he had already surpassed me, now I haven’t got the exclusivity of the Stuttgart purpose, both. Now I simply must be quiet and provides him an enormous kiss, as a result of he deserves it.”

Miguel Merino put Osasuna 2-0 up and his group went on to win the return leg of the second spherical 3-2.

Spain vs. Germany: Closing 3 minutes of UNREAL quarterfinal match | UEFA Euro 2024

At Euro 2024, Merino got here on 10 minutes earlier than the tip of regulation time in opposition to Germany, with Spain main 1-0 following fellow substitute Dani Olmo’s opener early within the second half.

Reporting by The Related Press.

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