Southgate exorcizes England's penalty trauma
The English football team is in the Euro semifinals - this was achieved through a decisive penalty shootout against Switzerland. This is not a coincidence, explains an expert. Under coach Gareth Southgate, intensive work has been done on this specialized discipline.
The English and penalty shootouts, that was once a bitter story. The jittery nerves of the Three Lions became a legend. But one man refused to accept this, also due to his own experience. Coach Gareth Southgate took up the challenge. For eight years, since he took over the team, he has worked meticulously on taking the element of chance 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 resolutely under the bar, England's sad story reached the semifinals and cleared the way for Germany's Euro title. But it was not the only penalty shootout that was linked to Southgate in a bitter way.
In the last Euro championship, 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 this to heart. Against Switzerland, in the quarterfinals (5:3, 1:1), he took the third shot and scored confidently. He was greatly relieved, as was evident. His four teammates were also successful. Pickford, the goalkeeper, saved a try from Akanji with his bottle trick, which took England into the semifinals.
"I am full of admiration for him (Note: Bukayo Saka). He not only missed the decisive penalty that time, the consequences for him were devastating," said Jordet. Saka has "since worked intensively on his penalty routine." He 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 one thing: control." Under Southgate, the English won three out of four penalty shootouts at the previous tournaments, including the Nations League.
The English team's successful journey in the European Football Championship 2024 semifinals continues to impress, building upon their penaly shootout expertise under coach Gareth Southgate. England's improvement in penalty shootouts, a challenge they once faced with apprehension, is evident in Bukayo Saka's confident performance against Switzerland in the quarterfinals.
