The insane connection between Spain's Euros 2024 heroes Merino and Oyarzabal

Real Madrid and Barcelona are two of the world's most popular and significant clubs, let alone in Spain.

However, the core of this Red Fury side that deservedly won the European Championship title is - believe it or not - Real Sociedad!

The small club from the Basque Country, along with their neighbours, Athletic Bilbao, made the basis of the team that triumphed in Germany.

Luis de la Fuente called up five Real Sociedad players - Alex Remiro, Robin Le Normand, Martin Zubimendi, Mikel Merino and Mikel Oyarzabal - and the last two transformed into true heroes at this tournament.

Oyarzabal's name will be remembered forever for scoring the 87th-minute winner against England, as the 27-year-old capitalised on Cucurella's excellent cross.

He has spent the entirety of his career so far at Sociedad, making his senior debut in 2015 after spending years in their youth ranks.

His Spain's maiden call-up came a year later, but he has earned just 28 caps since. Still, De la Fuente believed in him, and Oyarzabal came on for Morata in the 68th minute, and then decided the showdown 20 minutes later.

Oyarzabal almost recreated what his Real Sociedad teammate and namesake Mikel Merino did in the quarter-final against Germany. Also coming on as a substitute, Merino made the most of Dani Olmo's perfect cross from the left-hand side (just like Cucurella last night) to score the winner a few minutes before the end of the second extra time.

Unlike Oyarzabal, Merino, 28, has a handful of prolific clubs in his CV, including Borussia Dortmund and Newcastle United. He was raised in Osasuna and joined Real Sociedad in 2018.

Interestingly, just like Oyarzabal, he made 28 appearances for the Spanish national side.

Two Mikels, two Real Sociedad gems, two discreet Spanish heroes!