Splinters from Saturday: Jessica Kroos finds touching words after her husband's retirement and Mikel Merino honors his father with a little dance.
Like father, like son
After he headed Spain into the semi-finals in their clash with European Championship hosts Germany shortly before the end of extra time, Mikel Merino danced joyfully around the corner flag. This goal celebration was a tribute to his father. Almost 33 years ago, Angel Merino also scored a goal for Spanish club Osasuna in the UEFA Cup match at VfB Stuttgart (3:2) in November 1991 and then celebrated by dancing around the corner flag. Now, in the same stadium, his son did the same.
Touching farewell words from Jessica Kroos
Toni Kroos' magnificent career also came to an end with Germany's European Championship exit. His wife Jessica then wrote touching words to her husband on Instagram. "After your farewell in Madrid, I was emotionally unable to say anything about your farewell. I'm even more unable today, but I won't let you go quietly," she wrote. "You are our hero and I thank you for taking me on this journey and letting me be your wife. We are incredibly excited to finally have you with us more, but we will also miss you on the pitch." Referring to their three children, aged between 5 and 10, she wrote: "Unfortunately, you can't see the pride in your children's eyes in the stands when you're on the pitch, but you can imagine that they are almost bursting with pride and I am too."
SDA
