Southgate exorcizes England's penalty trauma
The English football team is in the semi-finals of the EM – this was achieved through a decisive penalty shootout against Switzerland. This is not a coincidence, explains an expert. Under the guidance of coach Gareth Southgate, intensive work has been done on this special 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 national team, he has worked meticulously on taking the unpredictability out of penalty shootouts. Geir Jordet, a sports psychologist and penalty expert, told the "Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung", that the English "are gradually getting closer to a perfect penalty shootout – all thanks to Southgate."
In 1996, during the home EM, 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 crossbar, England, who were deeply saddened, failed to reach the semi-finals and cleared the way for Germany's EM title. But this was not the only penalty shootout that was linked to Southgate in a bitter way.
In the last European Championship, in 2021, he 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's save of Akanji's attempt, thanks to his bottle trick, brought England into the semi-finals.
"I am full of admiration for him (Note: Bukayo Saka). He didn't just miss the decisive penalty that time, the consequences for him were devastating," said Jordet. Saka has "worked intensely on his penalty routine since then." He "rarely encounters a player whose routines are as automated as his, who allows himself so much time before his shot." Southgate, as Jordet reports, has "founded an Elfmeter-Task-Force" and "searched for 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 have won three out of four penalty shootouts at the previous tournaments, including the Nations League.
England plays on Wednesday (21:00/ARD and MagentaTV as well as in the ntv.de-Live Ticker) in Dortmund against the Netherlands to secure a place in the final. The winner of the match will play in the final on Sunday in Berlin. So far, the Dutch have made a better impression in the tournament. The Dutch team hopes for a repeat of the EM triumph in 1988, when the tournament was also held in Germany. Despite reaching the semi-finals, the English are one of the biggest disappointments at the EM. The star-studded offense radiates little danger, instead the Three Lions advanced with minimalist football. However, the hope for the first triumph at a major tournament since the 1966 World Cup is great.
England aims to make history in the European Football Championship 2024, building on their improved penalty shootout skills under the guidance of coach Gareth Southgate. Southgate's dedication to refining penalty techniques, as seen in Bukayo Saka's confident penalty against Switzerland, could give England an edge in the upcoming competitions.
