The Magic of the Penalty Shootout
When a football match goes down to the wire and after regulation time is played up and any extra minutes that were added on are exhausted, the match goes into overtime. Even after overtime if no team comes out on top of the match is decided on penalty shootouts. These often nail bitingly tense finishes to football matches are always exciting and full of drama. As both teams line up to take their penalty shots, it is always in the back of the fan’s mind that one team has to lose and one has to win. It is this reason that makes the penalty kick shootouts so exciting.
During penalty shootouts goalkeepers suddenly seem to come into their element by saving a few shots in a row and winning the match for their side. Other times players get so nervous that they send the ball flying over the goal and the keeper doesn’t even have to move. It is the unique nature of this element of the football game that has the ability to turn the worst player into a hero and make the best player miss the most crucial shot. A penalty shootout is usually used to decide the big matches in tournaments, the quarterfinals, semi-finals and the finals. So there is a lot at stake when these matches turn out to be draws after the ninety minutes and the two overtime halves. The unpredictable nature of these shootouts has people in two halves about them. There are those that say it is unfair that a team that has been dominating the entire match has to lose on penalties.
The other side say penalty shootouts are the only fair way to decide a game’s result. The opinions will always keep coming but everyone has to agree that penalty shootouts are a very exciting part of the game.
Some of the most memorable moments in football have come from penalty shootouts in the past. One of the best moments, or worst moments if you were an Italian supporter, came during the 1994 World Cup final between Brazil and Italy. Roberto Baggio was up to the mark to take the penalty that would decide the match for Italy or Brazil. “The stakes could hardly have been higher as Baggio stepped up. Not only had Claudio Taffarel just made a crucial save to put the onus of an entire World Cup on the next kick, he had dedicated it to his God by pointing to the sky. Baggio’s shot went in that direction”. The nature of the penalty shootout and the pressure that had been building up to this one single kick, got the better of the Italian legend and he became just another casualty of the dreaded shootout. Others haven’t fared any better but Baggio and his fans will always remember that miss. An event the great David Beckham missed a penalty at the Euro 2004 Quarterfinal against Portugal. “In the first round for England, captain David Beckham went up to the spot against Ricardo Pereira and as he ran up to take his penalty, the pitch appeared to give way as Beckham's penalty went way over the crossbar”. England ended up losing that match and Portugal advanced to the next round.
Many other interesting things have happened during penalty matches but the best surely has to be the longest penalty shootout ever. This accolade goes to a match that happened during the 1988-89 Argentine Championship played between, “Argentinos Juniors and Racing Club, which had finished 2-2. 44 penalties were taken before Argentinos emerged as 20-19 victors”. Just imagine the pressure and nerves that came into play that night. The fans must have bitten their nails completely off their fingers in anticipation and the players must have been racked with fatigue. The goalkeepers in that situation must have shown immense fortitude and strength of mind to keep going that long.
As long as the game of football is around and as long as great teams are evenly matched on the field of play, penalty shootouts will continue to be a fantastic source of entertainment and excitement for everyone involved.
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