Euro 2016: Simone Zaza Fluffs Penalty After Bizarre Run-Up As Germany Beat Italy In Dramatic Last Eight Shootout (Video)

Alan Duffy

3rd, July 2016

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Germany booked their place in the semi-finals of Euro 2016, after beating Italy 6-5 in an incredible penalty shoot-out. Mesut Ozil had given the Germans the lead on 65 minutes, only for Leonardo Bonucci to equalise from the penalty spot after a handball from Jerome Boateng.

A tense 30 minutes of extra-time failed to see a winner emerge, leading to an amazing penalty shoot-out which produced some of the worst spot-kicks seen for some time, with sub Simone Zaza’s effort memorable for all the wrong reasons.

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Brought on as a sub at the end of extra-time by Italian boss Antonio Conte, Juventus striker Zaza’s one job was to convert his spot-kick. However, with the shoot-out scores at 1-1, the striker fluffed his lines after an utterly bizarre ‘Lord of the Dance’ run-up…

Three of Germany’s experienced players, Thomas Muller, Mesut Ozil (again) and Bastian Schweinsteiger (via a Chris Waddle-tribute effort) would all miss their penalties. While for Italy, Graziano Pelle, Bonucci and Matteo Darmian all failing to score, leaving youngster Jonas Hector to fire home the winning spot-kick.

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Pelle tried to play mind games with Manuel Neuer by telling the German ‘keeper he was going to dink the ball over him, before feebly firing wide instead…

Here’s the full highlights of both the game and the incredible shootout…

Despite the misses, Germany once again win a shoot-out and overall, Jogi Loew’s were probably deserving of the win which could set up a tasty semi-final with France (if Les Bleus can overcome the mighty Iceland, that is!).