Good Round, Bad Round: Gianluigi Buffon’s emotional hug, Simone Zaza’s absurd penalty

When Iceland played France in St Denis on Sunday, you might have expected all the local dignitaries to settle down in the comfy seats, sit back and watch their team in the plush surroundings that usually come with such lofty positions in the world.

Not so for recently-elected Icelandic president Gudni Johannesson, who preferred to eschew the more fancy trappings of his job, don that 'Escape To Victory'-esque shirt, get in with the crowd and probably do that remarkable 'hhhhooooooo' clap thing that initially sounds absolutely terrifying, then when you get used to it...still sounds absolutely terrifying.

“Why would I go in the VIP room and sip Champagne when I can do that anywhere in the world?” he told CNN. “No, I will be in the stands with the fans and I will wear my Iceland shirt. And with respect to the French team — it should not underestimate us.”

That didn't go brilliantly, but at least Iceland have got a national leader who has some sense of belonging with the fans. Now you mention it, at least Iceland have got a national leader at all...

This is not so much about one man, but more one who serves as a representative for all Wales fans out in France, having the time of their lives. Elis James is a Welsh comedian who has been going to games for some 25 years, through the, shall we say, rather more bleak times his national team have endured.

“I never thought it would happen,” he said recently, about Wales merely qualifying for a major tournament. “There can’t be a comparable record [of near-misses] in world football. I’d read up on all the classic disappointments – Ninian Park ’85, Scotland ’77, the lights going out at the Vetch in ’81 and all that sort of stuff, so I’d written it off. I just thought ‘that’s that.’”

So you can imagine their sense of dazed wonder and glory about their remarkable success, the unaffected joy brought about by their win against Belgium, that has put them in the semi-final – the semi-final! - of the tournament. James expressed this joy by very swiftly removing his shirt, along with many of his fellow Welsh supporters...and why not, eh? Enjoy it, take it in, lap it all up guys.

Because it wouldn't be an edition of Good Round, Bad Round without a clip of Joe Ledley dancing.

Is there nothing he can't do?

Sure, he lost and left the pitch after Italy's penalty shoot-out defeat to Germany in tears, but dear lord, do we love this man. He was the first to congratulate the German players on their victory, and the day after their defeat Buffon went to meet some fans to give them all a big hug.

Sorry, Good Round Bad Round has just got something in our eye...

He quite literally had one job. Simone Zaza was brought on in the very last minute of extra-time during Italy's quarter-final defeat to Germany, with his only purpose from then on to take a penalty in the impending shoot-out. So late was he coming on, that he didn't take a touch when he was on the pitch, and so his first time addressing the ball was the penalty. And, erm, as you'll know, it didn't go well. “I did send Manuel Neuer the wrong way, but unfortunately the ball went too high,” said Zaza. Well, one out of two...

It wasn't just that the penalty was bad. It wasn't even that it was so monumentally bad that everyone watching - excluding Italians and perhaps Chris Waddle, who presumably felt a shudder of recognition go down his spine – bellowed with laughter at how monumentally bad it was. More that it was monumentally bad, but also that he went about that monumental badness in such an absurd manner. His tippy-toe run up before ballooning the ball over the bar has been variously compared to a villain in a cartoon sneaking up on someone, a prancing horse and, our favourite, Fred Flintstone bowling. He did not have a dabba-doo time.

Still, at least Stefan Freund enjoyed himself.

It was most irksome that, during half-time of Wales v Belgium, a belting good game by anyone's standards, and the sort of encounter us neutrals should be salivating and poring over with great enthusiasm, our broadcasters dedicated time to more discussion of England's tedious non-presence in the tournament.

Still, they did offer some light relief in the form of Frank Lampard, who showed up on TV muse sagely on mental faculties of this England team in comparison to his own generation, who of course were famously stout and stoic in the face of pressure.

After defeat to Wales, Belgium boss Marc Wilmots might have expected a little support and sympathy from his players. Over to Thibaut Courtois to deliver that support:

"We were outclassed on all fronts," Courtois said. "Tactically, technically and organisationally we came up short. "This was an opportunity we may not get again. I gave him [Wilmots] my opinion in the dressing room. He has to make his own decision [on whether he stays]."

Oh.

Imagine trying to be a Welsh journalist with any sense of professionalism and neutrality. Just let it all out, man...

Anyone else think that climbing over to a lady's window, throwing balls at it and not going away until she's given you a kiss is a bit...well...creepy?