The internet reacts to Simone Zaza's missed penalty kick, trolls hard
The internet, as it does, had a lot of thoughts about Germany's win over Italy in a penalty kick shootout on Saturday.
The nine-round shootout finished with Germany prevailing yet again, despite their worst performance from the spot in a very long time. It was a surprising nail-biter, and the U.S. Women's National Team was glued to the action on their way to practice:
This is what happens when #GERITA goes to PKs but it's time to go to practice... #FootballAllDay #EURO2016 pic.twitter.com/cZ7O6UkKz9
— U.S. Soccer WNT (@ussoccer_wnt) July 2, 2016
But most of the internet's reaction was reserved for the attempt from Italy's Simone Zaza. He showed everyone that if you're going to miss, you might as well miss in style. Unfortunately, Zaza was substituted into the match after 120 minutes specifically for the shootout:
Zaza's heat map pic.twitter.com/t0FvS9BMRx
— Football Fights (@footbalIfights) July 2, 2016
His "dance" of tiny stutter steps up to the ball built anticipation and then, well, it was a disaster. His first and only touch on the ball sailed wildly beyond the net. After the match, Zaza began trending on Twitter in the United States.
Some joked that it resembled the "running man challenge" that has gone viral online over the past year:
The Original Running Man Challenge by the Maryland Terps ? https://t.co/OUtk2E6EMX
— Running Man (@RunMan_) April 21, 2016
Plenty of people had other thoughts on what it resembled though:
Replay of Zaza's penalty kick... Looooll pic.twitter.com/Otcd7duw2k
— Danny Welbeck (@WelBeast) July 2, 2016
Zaza though #GERITA #EURO2016 pic.twitter.com/Tf7WjihjCQ
— Onefootball (@Onefootball) July 2, 2016
Footage emerges of Simone Zaza practicing his penalty run-up in #ITA training...https://t.co/MOHpxcdfPB
— Bleacher Report UK (@br_uk) July 2, 2016
Zaza's penalty pic.twitter.com/iv5Ur2xNUR
— Callum Clarkson (@CallumC1872) July 2, 2016
#Zaza's penalty run up tho #GERITA pic.twitter.com/zE8hGG7AUJ
— ♡ rebekka ♡ (@grandesteenwolf) July 2, 2016
Le penalty de Simone Zaza face à l'Allemagne pic.twitter.com/AQOCauEN8I
— Kalpo (@Kalpovitch) July 2, 2016
