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Twitter users mockingly suggested a “miracle†occurred during Italy’s Euro 2020 quarter-final game against Belgium on Friday.
Italy’s Ciro Immobile rolled around on the field in apparent agony after a seemingly innocuous penalty box moment with Belgium’s Jan Vertonghen.
But when Immobile’s teammate Nicolo Barella scored a goal to give Italy the lead just seconds later, he quickly jumped to his feet to celebrate.
Italy won the game 2-1 and will now face Spain in the semi-final of the European Championship tournament on Tuesday.
Video of Immobile’s play-acting went viral on Twitter, garnering millions of views and plenty of anger about the unsporting behavior:
“The euphoria of the goal, maybe masked the pain?†BBC presenter Mike Bushell joked on air Saturday morning.
Others booted similar gags at the soccer star:
Funny how Immobile is magically healed as Barella scores lol
— Ben Lloyd 🏴🇵🇱🏴 (@lloydben7) July 2, 2021
Hahaha at Immobile getting up once the goal went in
— Duncan Alexander (@oilysailor) July 2, 2021
Immobile was on the ground screaming like he was MORTALLY WOUNDED and then Barella scored and he’s like nm I’m good.
— Kevin 🀄🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆 (@miasancanada) July 2, 2021