Portugal’s Pepe will hear about his embarrassing flop against Morocco for a long time.
During Wednesday’s group stage match of this year’s World Cup, Morocco’s Medhi Benatia had some words for Portuguese defender Pepe. As the two men were walking, Benatia tapped Pepe on the right shoulder. Pepe responded by falling to the ground in an exaggerated fashion, as if the contact was much more severe than it actually was.
Hope Pepe is okay pic.twitter.com/Gm0vsWdyAA
— JUVENTUS BELGIUM (@JuventusBelgium) June 20, 2018
Not surprisingly, Pepe was roundly ripped for the dive. Here’s a sampling of what people were saying.
Pepe is a graduate of the James Harden school of flop pic.twitter.com/vBc27HBvSG
— ERV (@ervcas) June 20, 2018
Pepe whenever he's touched… pic.twitter.com/XTeFaZF7Pi
— Footy Humour (@FootyHumour) June 20, 2018
Pepe should be banned for that disgraceful flop…… change my mind
— E (@NotEli17) June 20, 2018
Whatta flop by Pepe HAHAHA
— Cecil ???????? (@tsaaarls) June 20, 2018
Cristiano: I'm gonna do the most embarrassing flop of the World Cup
Pepe: Hold my beer— Ogvert (@Tipster_Ogvert) June 20, 2018
Pepe is a dramatic flop master professional. #WorldCup #PORMOR
— Soli Colah (@Solicolah) June 20, 2018
World class flop from Pepe #WorldCup
— DIDI GREGORIUS APPRECIATOR (@gus_wetekamp_23) June 20, 2018
LOL, Pepe with a world-class flop after a pat on the shoulder.
— Jeff Greer (@jeffgreer_cj) June 20, 2018
One constant criticism of soccer in recent years has been the tendency of players to exaggerate contact in an attempt to draw the attention of the referee. Pepe is no stranger to theatrics so it only makes sense he would bring them out on the sport’s biggest stage.
