World Cup Trivia: Penalties – All you need to know

The first match of the quarterfinals between Brazil and Chile ended in a showdown via penalties. Julio Cesar was no doubt the hero of Brazil, having managed to save two penalties. Though Chile had the absolute chance to win, especially through the nerve-stealing shot that hit the crossbar in the final minute of the extra time, it was by no coincidence that they lost the penalties. Here’s why:

Brazil has had 3 Penalties shootout experience

Experienced World Cup winners like Brazil and Argentina would know best how crucial penalties are as a game-breaker. After 120 minutes of gruelling play, the concentration and power needed to convert the penalty is not as easy as it looks. The player is also subjected to enormous mental stress as victory lies on his shoulders. It is thus understandable, why even the best world-class soccer players can send the ball flying outrageously off target during this crucial moment.

Top 3 most epic and memorable penalty misses you should know:

1) Roberto Baggio

When: 1994 FIFA World Cup Finals: Italy Vs Brazil
How: Baggio, playing injured, missed the crucial last penalty to keep Italy’s hopes alive.

Watch here

2) David Beckham

When: 2004 Euro Cup: England Vs Portugal
How: This is deeply etched in me, as well as many among my generation. Then England captain, Beckham sent the shot very, very high.

No link, too painful to watch. (Verzon is a Manchester United fan)

3) Asamoah Gyan

When: 2010 World Cup Quaterfinals: Ghana Vs Uruguay
How: A shot that shaved off the crossbar, which could have brought Ghana to the semifinals for the first time.
Watch here

Year Penalties were introduced: 1978

Since penalties were introduced in 1978, there have been 22 shootouts in nine World Cup tournaments (before current World Cup 2014). Before penalties, matches that still ended in a draw after extra time were decided by replays.

Most penalties shootout (again, before current World Cup 2014): Germany, France, Argentina and Italy playing 4 rounds of penalty shootout

Germany have won all four penalties shootout in their World Cup History.

Now guess who lost all three of their World Cup shootouts: England

Technique behind the penalty: Mental Strength

The stark contrast of the penalty performance of Germany compared to that of England shows that the spot kick is not so much decided by luck, but rather clear technique.

Interestingly, Geir Jordet did a research on successful and unsuccessful kicks in penalty shootouts of major tournaments and professed reasons such as emotional distress as to why players fail to take a good penalty. For example, English players tend to take their penalties faster, exhibiting the extent of mental stress causing them to want to quickly get the penalty over and done with. You can read more here.

Finally, let me end off with this quote by Baggio: Only those who have the courage to take a penalty miss them.”

EUFASS

World Cup Trivia is a series designed for the current World Cup 2014 to give fans more than one ways to savour the game.