England, of all countries, is approaching penalty kick perfection
The English football team is in the Euro semifinals - this was achieved in part due to a decisive penalty shootout against Switzerland. This wasn't just luck, explains an expert. Under manager Gareth Southgate, intensive work has been put into the special discipline of penalty shootouts.
The English and penalty shootouts, that was once a bitter story. The jittery nerves of the Three Lions became a legend. But one man wouldn't accept that, also due to his own experience. Manager Gareth Southgate took up the challenge. For eight years, since he took over the national team, he has worked meticulously on taking the luck out of penalty shootouts. Geir Jordet, a sports psychologist and penalty expert, told the "Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung", that the English "are slowly getting closer to a perfect penalty shootout, all thanks to Southgate."
In 1996, during the home Euros, the center back, who was then under contract at Aston Villa, missed as the sixth and only shooter for his team. His shot into the bottom left corner was saved by DFB keeper Andreas Kopke. Because Andreas Moeller then hit the ball decisively under the bar, England, with its tragic heroes, failed to reach the semifinals and cleared the way for Germany's Euro title. But that wasn't the only penalty shootout that was linked to Southgate in a bitter way.
In the last Euros, in 2021, Southgate substituted two players in the final against Italy in the 120th minute, who both failed. Marcus Rashford hit the post. Donnarumma saved Jadon Sancho's shot. Saka, who had been playing since the 70th minute, also failed. The tragic heroes had to endure severe racism afterwards. Saka took it to heart. Against Switzerland, in the quarterfinals (5:3, 1:1), he took the third shot and scored confidently. He was greatly relieved, as he generously showed. His four teammates were also successful. Pickford, the goalkeeper, parried a shot from Akanji, thanks to his bottle trick, which brought England into the semifinals.
"I am in awe of him (Note: d. Red.: Bukayo Saka). He didn't just miss the decisive penalty then, the consequences for him were devastating," said Jordet. Saka has "since worked intensively on his penalty routine." Jordet knows "hardly any player whose routines are as automated as his, who allows himself so much time before his shot." Southgate, so reports Jordet, has "founded an Elfmeter-Task-Force" and "sought a scientific approach." "I spoke to Chris Markham back then, he led this Task-Force," explained Jordet, "and I told him that it all comes down to control." Under Southgate, the English won three out of four penalty shootouts at the previous tournaments, including the Nations League.
England aims to excel in the European Football Championship 2024, leveraging their improved penalty shootout skills, a result of Gareth Southgate's focused efforts. The English team's resilience in penalties, once a source of heartbreak, has transformed into a strength, making England a contender in European soccer.
