Thursday 7 July 2016 13:26, UK
Germany and Italy's recent penalty shoot-out problems proved even the best players can find it diffcult to score from 12 yards.
After seven misses in their Euro 2016 quarter-final shootout, it is time to reveal some hints and tips on how to take the perfect penalty.
Wales, Portugal, France and Germany could all have to step up to the spot if their semi-finals go the distance, so MBNA spoke to penalties expert Ben Lyttleton for some hints and tips.
Lyttleton, author of Twelve Yards: The Art & Psychology of the Perfect Penalty, has advised clubs and national teams on penalty strategy and finds that a lot of it is in the players' heads.
He has given the following 10 pieces of advice for Gareth Bale and Co, as well as amateur footballers everywhere.
1. Win the toss and kick first
The team that kicks first is 60 per cent more likely to go on to win the shoot-out - in part because the conversion rate for penalties taken 'to stay in the shoot-out' drops to 62 per cent in major tournaments, while the conversion rate for penalties taken to win the shoot-out rises to 92 per cent. It shows the difference between thinking about positive, as opposed to negative, consequences when taking a penalty.
2. Don't put your best player last
You don't want to lose the shoot-out before your best kicker gets a shot at the goal, which might happen if he is placed fifth. Studies that assigned an 'importance variable' to each penalty show the first and fourth penalties have the most significance in terms of affecting the outcome so getting the order right is vital.
3. Wait for the goalkeeper to move first
Across a number of penalty examples over a long period of time, the numbers show this method is a more successful strategy than blasting the ball regardless of where the goalkeeper goes - though technically it's harder to pull off.
4. Make the kicker wait
Studies show that if a goalkeeper makes a penalty taker wait for between 1.7 to 4.5 seconds before the referee blows his whistle, penalty conversion rates drop to 61 per cent in major tournaments.
5. Player status doesn't matter
Superstars Roberto Baggio, Michel Platini, Lionel Messi, Diego Maradona, David Beckham, and Cristiano Ronaldo have all missed big penalties at the peak of their careers. Studies have shown that players of 'high status' have a worse record in penalties than players who are merely 'part of the team'. The pressure on these players is greater, and they have more to lose if they miss.
6. Scoring the last goal helps
Momentum plays a big part in the shoot-out, as the team that scored last in the game has a 62 per cent chance of going on to win on penalties.
7. Body language matters
Studies show if a player is successful when the scores are level, and he celebrates with both arms extended out, his team is 82 per cent more likely to go on and win the shoot-out.
8. Don't rush it
Based on analysis of reaction times from the referee blowing his whistle to the player beginning his run-up, England players waited an average 0.28 seconds before starting their approach. This is quicker than any other nation, and not far off Usain Bolt, whose average reaction time to the starting gun is 0.17 seconds. Waiting just one second can make a big difference.
9. Don't overthink it on the walk
Overthinking a task can lead to a negative result, so players need to have a strategy for what to think about on the dreaded walk to the spot. Focusing on the process - the routine of execution - rather than the outcome is a good start.
10. Goalkeepers can stay central
Nearly 30 per cent of all penalties go down the middle of the goal, but goalkeepers only stay central six per cent of the time. One international goalkeeper, who will be in action at Euro 2016, told me he dives for penalties as otherwise it looks like he's not trying.
