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My earliest recollection of a World Cup penalty shoot-out happened to be the first ever to take place in a World Cup Final. It was USA 1994 – Brazil beat Italy in the blistering Pasadena heat.
Etched into memory, is the image of Roberto Baggio. The Italian saviour through the tournament, now cut a solitary figure transfixed to the penalty spot. Hands on hips, his head hung low whilst the Brazilians celebrate their victory, over his shoulder in the distance.
Baggio’s penalty-kick, shot high over the crossbar, gifted his opponents the Cup. Everything came down to a single kick of the ball 12-yards from the goal. The stakes were impossibly high.
Day two of the last 16 phase at Russia 2018 was a day of shoot-outs, both games played were decided from the spot. Where the odds are traditionally stacked heavily against the goalkeeper the Russian, Croatian and Danish No.1’s were all heroes of the day.
The first match was in keeping with the theme of tournament favourites early exits. Russian goalkeeper Igor Akinfeev saved twice to knock out 2010 World Champions Spain. The second saw a remarkable test of nerves between Danish keeper Casper Schmeichel, son of Manchester United legend Peter, and Croatian Danijel Subaši?.
Schmeichel had kept the Danes in the match, saving a penalty awarded deep in extra time. His Croat opponent bettered him by one in the shoot-out, saving three spot kicks to keep his nations World Cup dreams alive.
The penalty shoot-out environment is one that footballers struggle to describe - a sensation that can only be felt. England veteran Rio Ferdinand tried, “No matter how many times you practice these (penalties) in training you can’t recreate that atmosphere”.
Seemingly the electric atmosphere at the Luzhniki Stadium carried the Russians through to the next round. The home support, the clear majority of 78,000 in attendance, willed every action on the pitch in their favour.
According to performance data collection experts Opta (www.optasports.com) “5 host nations have now won each of their last five penalty shootouts at the World Cup”.
Penalty shoot-outs were introduced to the World Cup as a tie breaker in 1978, the first taking place in 1982 and 27 more have taken place since. They can be the best or worst depending entirely on your position.
The neutral will enjoy high drama and entertainment with minimal emotional investment. For supporters with a stake in the game, the process is far from enjoyable - destined to end in either euphoria or dispair.
As a child, I watched Roberto Baggio stand in the same spot for what seemed an eternity. I was incensed by the injustice. This hero had carried his country to World Cup Final yet would be remembered as the shadow at the penalty spot.
Some call the shoot-out “lottery or a game of chance”. Of course, it’s more than just that – it’s also test of skill, character, mental strength and desire. The conversation will continue until a better way to decide stalemates in knock-out competitions is discovered. But will it bring the same level of excitement and after all isn’t this entertainment?
