GARETH SOUTHGATE will again bring on England subs to take penalties from ‘cold’ if their last-16 clash with Slovakia goes to a shootout.
The Three Lions boss was stung in the final of Euro 2020 when Jadon Sancho and Marcus Rashford missed spot-kicks against Italy after he brought them on in the last minute of extra-time.
But he is confident enough to bring on specialists like Ivan Toney — yet to play at Euro 2024 — and Cole Palmer just to take penalties if needed.
England are aiming to book a quarter-final against Switzerland and Southgate said: “The players are ready for that scenario if required.
“We’ve a lot more regular penalty- takers for their clubs than three years ago, so there is more experience of that situation.
“Hindsight is the master in those moments, you make decisions for the right reasons at the time with the evidence you have, but you will be the only one who ends up accountable.
“In the World Cup final, Argentina brought on Paulo Dybala at the end of extra-time and he scored in the shootout.
“In the Europa League final in 2021, Manchester United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer brought on Alex Telles and Juan Mata in the 123rd minute.
“And they scored, they lost the shootout and he got slaughtered for not changing his goalkeeper!”
Brentford strikerToney has a 93 per cent success rate from the spot, while Chelsea man Palmer has scored all 15 of his penalties as a professional.
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England skipper Harry Kane, who has netted 15 straight penalties since his failure in the 2022 World Cup quarter-final, says he is confident in the spot-kick abilities of himself and his team.
Kane said: “Whenever I miss a penalty, I pride myself on making sure I get on another good run.
“I have a technique I have always used and I don’t change that.
“I look at the keeper and go through what penalty is going to be best in that situation. Then I execute to the best of my ability.
“We have a lot of good penalty-takers compared to the last Euros.
“Players who have taken some in high-pressure penalty shootouts or big games.
“I’m not sure it’s the best group of penalty-takers we’ve ever had but it’s the most experienced.
“If needed, it’s something we’re prepared for.”
EXPERT football psychologist Professor Geir Jordet has told Gareth Southgate and his players what they can do to give themselves the best chance of victory in any shootouts.
And he has even thrown in a rogue, bold suggestion for the Three Lions manager…
1. START PLANNING LAST YEAR
“It’s about planning for the opposition’s penalty takers but also ‘how do we win the psychological game against each opponent?’
2. SMART SOUTHGATE LEADERSHIP
“Southgate will have two minutes to influence his players as effectively as possible, show he has a plan and get confidence across.”
3. DICTATE AS A TEAM
“A shootout is really a team performance. Have the goalkeeper walk with the penalty taker into the penalty area to basically create a two-versus-one against the other goalkeeper. Dominate the centre circle, support the players who missed.”
4. ‘BULLETPROOF’ INDIVIDUAL ROUTINES
“Have really good, individualised and rehearsed pre-shot routines that are bulletproof and polished so they’re more likely to be able to resist the stress and more likely to score.”
5. SHOOT YOUR SHOT
“Practise the shot itself, trying to simulate penalty shootouts in training. Even recreating 20 per cent of a Euros final penalty shootout is going to have a benefit for your performance.”
AND A JOR DROPPING IDEA…
Jordan Pickford is the No1 but Dean Henderson actually has a far better penalty record – saving 8/22 (36 per cent) compared to Pickford’s 8/62 (13 per cent).
Jordet said: “One could consider making a late substitution for a penalty shootout. I doubt that they dare to do it in case it fails and the pressure is even higher but it would be a very ballsy move.”
THE dreaded penalty shootout.
England’s nemesis at no fewer than SEVEN major tournaments since 1990, from the West Germany heartache at Italia 90 to Wembley woes on the brink of Euro 2020 final glory.
But two shootout victories before the Italy defeat give some reason for optimism…
