Shearer slams Immobile for 'pathetically embarrassing' act

Ciro Immobile’s actions on the pitch left Alan Shearer unimpressed in wake of Italy’s Euro 2020 triumph over Belgium.

Alan Shearer blasted Ciro Immobile’s attempt to win Italy a penalty during Friday’s 2-1 quarter-final victory against Belgium.

The 31-year-old was seen on camera in apparent agony inside the Belgium box following a tussle with Jan Vertonghen. But as Nicolo Barella scored moments later to hand Italy a first-half lead, Immobile made a miraculous recovery to celebrate the goal with his teammates.

The way he quickly bounced back to his feet to celebrate Barella’s opener was hard to miss and Shearer, for one, was far from impressed.

Injured Italian player suddenly recovers when Italy scores #Euro2021 pic.twitter.com/E6b2O9EUET

— Don Moynihan (@donmoyn) July 2, 2021

“I don’t even want to laugh at that because that is pathetic,” said the former England captain on BBC after the match.

“You can see him have a look at the referee before he even goes down. It’s pathetically embarrassing, that’s what it is!”

Lorenzo Insigne added a second goal to double Italy’s lead before Romelu Lukaku scored a penalty for Belgium moments before the break. However, Roberto Mancini’s men held on for a 2-1 win.

“It was a magnificent game of football, end to end,” Shearer added.

“The Italians had to use all of their know-how and experience in that last 10 or 15 minutes.

“The two old guys at the back were brilliant. It was a big talking point whether Lukaku was going to get in behind them and whether they were going to get done for pace.

“But they stood firm with everything that the Belgians threw at them in the last 10 or 15 minutes. They were magnificent.”

Italy will now face Spain in the Euro 2020 semi-finals next Tuesday.