The penalty shoot-out between Italy and Germany had everything.
Germany won 6-5 to progress to the semi-finals of Euro 2016, where they will meet either France or Iceland.
But not before a series of tense spot-kicks, where two Germans and three Italians failed to find the net.
There were important saves, like Manuel Neuer’s from Matteo Darmian, but all that most people could talk about was Simone Zaza’s skied effort.
Well, not the penalty itself, but the run-up, where the Juventus forward – who had been brought on specifically to take a penalty – took about 20 steps before firing over the bar.
THAT Zaza penalty miss! #GERITA #EURO2016 https://t.co/hGaipkbSme
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) July 3, 2016
The internet didn’t disappoint when it came to the well-honed art of taking the piss, with an unrelenting barrage of mockery.
Sure, it was only one part of what was a generally shambolic penalty shoot-out, but Zaza’s effort was so remarkably bad it deserves a separate tribute of its own.
https://twitter.com/_Zeets/status/749377858137710593
https://twitter.com/steamingkeys/status/749357786845306880
Even studio pundits got in on the act.
https://twitter.com/JongsmaJongsma/status/749362031405494276
Van Hooijdonk was right, you know.
https://twitter.com/ed_son/status/749358059064008704
There were countless comparisons.
Zaza's run up. pic.twitter.com/AB3vxyoNIp
— Jonny Sharples (@JonnyGabriel) July 2, 2016
Seriously though, Simone Zaza ran up that penalty like a dad approaching the dance floor at a wedding.
— Jonny Sharples (@JonnyGabriel) July 2, 2016
Then some more…
https://twitter.com/owenblackhurst/status/749358708027777025
And even more still…
https://twitter.com/MichaelJ423/status/749359872320430080
By the end, they made the Jerome Boateng photoshops look like nothing.
https://twitter.com/NutmegRadio/status/749357693836488704
