Jerome Boateng hadn’t put a foot wrong all tournament.
Two goal-line clearances in the group stages earned him plenty of praise as one of the best defenders in world football.
And while he may not have put a foot wrong, he put a hand wrong in stunning style towards the end of Germany’s Euro 2016 quarter-final with Italy.
Leading 1-0 thanks to Mesut Ozil’s close-range finish, Germany threw the lead away when Boateng decided to defend as though he were trying out for an NBA team with less than 15 minutes remaining.
I believe I can fly I believe I can touch the sky – Boateng pic.twitter.com/igR7rZxGVX
— SULTAN (@lfcgr8st) July 2, 2016
The Bayern Munich centre-half blindly threw his hands into the air as he attempted to get a block in on a Giorgio Chiellini header.
The referee rightly pointed to the spot and Leonardo Bonucci converted to force extra time.
And the internet was united in a series of memes aimed at poking fun at a hapless Boateng.
https://twitter.com/ShahLorston/status/749344252090458112
Jerome Boateng… #GERITA pic.twitter.com/bhCXkmgAIy
— Colm Boohig (@ColmBoohig) July 2, 2016
Leaked pictures of Boateng jumping for that ball… pic.twitter.com/W09MnDxiwJ
— Kristian Sturt (@FootieWriter) July 2, 2016
Boateng chose a bad time to impersonate Billy Elliott pic.twitter.com/r6wwunT0Lo
— Tony Barrett (@TonyBarrett) July 2, 2016
79' Jerome Boateng's defensive approach on that cross… #GERITA pic.twitter.com/Q78kohXntK
— DW Sports (@dw_sports) July 2, 2016
What on earth #Boateng pic.twitter.com/WgftyYNpEb
— Andrew 🦄🏴 (@thegibshow_) July 2, 2016
Boateng. pic.twitter.com/FejPZNk5E0
— New Account:@6ixRole (@simeonfc) July 2, 2016
https://twitter.com/FootballVines/status/749341938021724160
Boateng na #EURO2016 pic.twitter.com/HPaIE796IE
— Thiago Romariz (@thiagoromariz) July 2, 2016
Another look at Boateng's hand-ball… #GERITA pic.twitter.com/0Jf9Mc55vE
— Ladbrokes (@Ladbrokes) July 2, 2016
https://twitter.com/Alan_Alger_/status/749342147812454400
Boateng defending that cross. pic.twitter.com/Pk5gxEy7RY
— JOE (@JOE_co_uk) July 2, 2016
Exclusive picture of Boateng's handball pic.twitter.com/K1k06aXxui
— enzosexual (@CescOffender) July 2, 2016
Boateng… pic.twitter.com/rZ3KarDXqQ
— Memorabilia Rey (@MemorabiliaRey) July 2, 2016
