How to take the perfect penalty
In football it's getting down to the end of the season pressure with league and cups being decided. That also means the dreaded penalty shoot-out. We asked one of our football experts how to take the perfect penalty...
- Placement: Top corner will score every time as it's impossible for the keeper to react in time. Only problem is it's difficult and a high risk strategy. Slightly too low and it becomes the perfect height for the keeper to save. Many pros favour low and hard into the corners, making it difficult for the keeper to get down in time, though they do have a chance if there isn't enough pace on the shot. The risky shot is definitely a blast into the middle of the goal. It worked for Becks against Argentina!
- Be Confident: Unless you're confident of judging which way the keeper will go and picking your spot at the last minute then you need to choose the spot before the run up. Some of the best penalty takers have their favourite spots to put it, they don't change it for anything which leads us onto the key fact...
- Practice: It really does make perfect. Taking kicks becomes automatic, in terms of focus, nerves and delivery. it also makes it more likely that you will get a good contact on the ball, which is essential to beat the keeper.
Penalty Tips and Facts
- Remember Chris Waddle blazing over the bar against Germany in Italia '90?
- Cristiano Ronaldo has scored 4 penalties so far this season wearing Nike Mercurial Vapors.
- Sportsshoes founder Bruce Bannister scored over 30 penalties in his career.
- "Two touch" penalty. You can pass to a team mate from a spot kick. Thierry Henry and Robert Pires famously tried and missed, but were not the first to try. As early as 1957 Coppens of Belgium scored against Iceland after one-twoing a penalty with his team mate!
- Practice, practice and practice again.
