Gareth Southgate is consoled after his miss in the semi-final against Germany
On this day 21 years ago, England won their last penalty shootout as they overcame Spain 4-2 on penalties after a 0-0 draw at Wembley.
The Three Lions were in buoyant mood heading into their quarter final clash with Javier Clemente’s side, who had progressed to the last eight thanks to Guillermo Amor’s late winner against Romania, which was enough to see them leapfrog Bulgaria in Group ‘B’.
Emphatic victories over Scotland and the Netherlands had seen Terry Venables’ outfit comfortably qualify for the knockout phase as dreams of success on an international stage for the first time in three decades were close to becoming a reality.
It seemed, for a time, that football was indeed coming home.
Successful spot kicks from Alan Shearer, David Platt, Stuart Pearce and Paul Gascoigne had exorcised some of the demons from the heartbreaking 1990 World Cup semi-final shootout defeat to West Germany.
Pearce, one of the villains in Turin six years previously, slammed home England’s third penalty against Spain and celebrated as though his side had won the tournament. Redemption.
A nation held its breath as Miguel Nadal stepped up to keep the 1964 winners in the competition, but the Barcelona star saw his spot kick saved by David Seaman to send Wembley into raptures and England through to the semi-final.
Standing between the Three Lions and a place in a major final for the first time since 1966 were familiar foe Germany, who had beaten Croatia 2-1 in their quarter final. Berti Vogts side had unfinished business in the competition having lost in the 1992 final to Denmark in Gothenburg.
Earlier that day, Czech Republic had beaten France 6-5 on penalties at Old Trafford to progress to the Euro 96 final. The eyes of the football world were once again fixated on Wembley Stadium as England got off to a flier as Shearer headed home from a corner inside three minutes.
Stefan Kuntz’ goal just after the quarter hour mark was enough to force extra time and penalties in an enthralling clash, but it would prove to be more anguish for the Three Lions who were thwarted at the semi-final stage by Germany once more.
Stuart Pearce celebrates
his penalty against Spain
Heartbreak for the squad after
losing to Italy at Euro 2012
After five successful spot kicks each, Gareth Southgate saw his penalty saved by Andreas Kӧpke before Andres Mӧller rifled his effort into the roof of the net to send Germany into the final. Vogts side won the tournament through Oliver Bierhoff’s golden goal to claim their third European title.
Since the victory over Spain 21 years ago, England have lost five consecutive shootouts – including the defeat against Germany. There have been 20 different penalty takers, with 16 successful spot kicks and ten unsuccessful attempts in the defeats against Germany, Argentina, Portugal (twice) and Italy.
Is it a case of indecisiveness in the run up to take a penalty, a lack of conviction when striking the ball, or is there a psychological barrier that players are unable to hurdle?
The British Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences (BASES) compiled a study on the psychological preparation for football penalty shootouts. “Anxiety is the most significant contributing factor to performance failure in football penalty shootouts” (Jordet et al., 2007, 2012).
The study also stated that “players score on fewer than 60% of their attempts when a miss will instantly result in a loss for the team compared to 92% of their attempts when a goal will win the game” (Jordet et al., 2007).
England’s conversion percentage in the last five shootouts is just over 61% and, since losing to Argentina at the 1998 World Cup, have scored just seven of their 14 penalties. Only John Terry, Owen Hargreaves (twice) and Wayne Rooney haven’t missed from the spot since David Batty’s penalty in France, with David Beckham, Jamie Carragher, Ashley Cole, Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard and Ashley Young all failing to find the back of the net in the shootout.
But which five of the current England squad would you want to step up and take a spot kick at the quarter final or semi-final stage of the 2018 World Cup in Russia, should Southgate’s side qualify? Harry Kane would be the first name on the list and Jermain Defoe – if he is in the 23-man squad – is surely another banker. But beyond those two, perhaps only Dele Alli and Eric Dier instil any confidence – marginal though it is.
Maybe the next generation of players can go into the next shootout safe in the knowledge that none of them have taken a penalty at a major tournament, and it may be an opportunity to write a new chapter in English football?
ON THIS DAY: PENALTY SUCCESS
England claim their only penalty shootout victory at a major finals with a 4-2 win over Spain in 1996
Article posted: 22 June 2017
PLAY-OFFS AT 30
Former Wolverhampton Wanderers and Sheffield United defender Neill Collins reflects on his play-off experience
29 May 2017
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE FINAL
Juventus and Real Madrid set to go head to head for the most coveted prize in club football
2 June 2017
