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Zaza eager to make up for Euro embarrassment

Zaza eager to make up for Euro embarrassment

  • Matthew Klimberg
The 2016 European Championship was the tournament that launched Simone Zaza’s current status as a household name across the world. Unfortunately, for the Italian, his notoriety stems not from success, but deep and searing embarrassment.

Few can forget his penalty attempt against Germany in the quarter-finals. Antonio Conte had brought him on specifically to take a penalty, but his series of short, staccato steps before launching the ball over the net became the stuff memes are made of. Now, a year-and-a-half later, Zaza will have a chance to repair his reputation when Italy takes on Sweden in their two-legged World Cup playoff. In scintillating form for Valencia, he may have the opportunity to start for Gian Piero Ventura as Andrea Belotti continues to work his way back to match fitness.

Though such a fate seems unlikely, should both teams go to a shootout, it will be very interesting to see how Zaza might approach it…if he’s even give the opportunity to do so.

UPDATE: An injury during training Thursday has put his status in doubt.