Shoot-out Showdowns: Who Are Europe’s Penalty Pros?
ON THE OFF CHANCE you’ve not heard, England are heading to a second European Championship Final in a row, and worryingly everything thus far has fallen in favour of the Three Lions. Southgate’s side failed to take full advantage of a Wembley final in Euro 2020 when the Azzurri broke English hearts in yet another penalty shoot-out gone wrong for the 1966 World Cup winners. England have had an upswing in penalty fortunes since, as recently as last weekend when they calmly netted five from five to see off Switzerland. But on the big stage, with a trophy on the line in a final, it’s hard to know what this side are capable of, or if they can keep up the good penalty performances of late. The past two finals at major international tournaments featuring European sides, Euro 2020 and the 2022 Qatar World Cup, have ended in penalties. Finals are often nitty-gritty matches where neither side is too eager to push for a winner at the expense of being left vulnerable ...
