In football, few moments evoke as much tension as a penalty shootout. This high-stakes drama was vividly illustrated during Monday’s last-32 matches.
Germany became the first team at this World Cup to experience the harsh realities of penalties, with Kai Havertz, Nick Woltemade, and Jonathan Tah missing crucial shots, leading to a surprising defeat against Paraguay. Following this, the Netherlands, well-acquainted with the heartache of shootout losses, faltered against Morocco, who capitalized on the opportunity.
This exit via penalties was particularly shocking for the German squad, as they had never faced such a fate since the introduction of penalty kicks in the World Cup in 1982. In the aftermath, reports surfaced revealing that Leon Goretzka and defenders Waldemar Anton, Nathaniel Brown, and Malick Thiaw had opted out of taking penalties, forcing Tah, who had no prior experience in such situations, to step up. His missed attempt ultimately sealed Germany’s elimination.
The situation raised questions regarding the preparedness of German head coach Julian Nagelsmann, with analysts criticizing the absence of a predetermined order for penalty takers.
Pochettino’s Methodology
Mauricio Pochettino, the head coach of the US national team, has taken a different approach. When asked about his strategy for penalties, he revealed that his staff had engaged an external firm to analyze penalty kicks and set pieces. While he has a preferred order for his shooters, he remained discreet about the specifics.
“I don’t want to talk too much,” Pochettino stated. “But I think we are working [with outside help] because as a coaching staff we believe we can provide some tools to the players to be better and to improve, [to equip] the players to try and find the best way to face this type of situation, while knowing that it is impossible to replicate the emotional stress and the pressure and expectation that they are going to feel.”
He emphasized the importance of the coaching staff’s role in determining the order of penalty takers, aiming to avoid asking players about their confidence levels.
Pochettino and his team established a collaborative group about 18 months ago, focusing on enhancing player performance during set pieces. They have partnered with two companies: Neuro11 and Trackman.
Neuro11 employs real-time EEG tracking to monitor brain activity during penalty kicks. This innovative method, previously used with Liverpool FC under Jürgen Klopp, involves players wearing a specialized helmet during practice. Trackman, on the other hand, provides detailed radar and sensor data on ball movement. US midfielder Sebastian Berhalter credited Trackman with improving his set piece execution, contributing to his selection for the World Cup squad.
USMNT’s Preparation for Penalties
Penalties are now a regular part of the USMNT’s training regimen as they gear up for their last-32 match against Bosnia and Herzegovina in the Bay Area on Wednesday. Many players watched Monday’s shootouts collectively. The USMNT has never participated in a penalty shootout during World Cup competitions, and their overall experience with critical penalty moments is minimal, with Brad Friedel’s memorable save against South Korea in 2002 being a notable exception.
“It is going to be [the coaching staff’s] decision, the 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. We try to arrive in this moment and not ask the player if he feels confident or not confident.” said midfielder Christian Pulisic during a press event at PayPal Park, the current training base for the USMNT. “It is an extremely hard thing to do, go up and take penalties,”
The US boasts several skilled penalty takers, led by Pulisic, who has successfully converted all seven of his attempts with the senior national team and has rarely missed in club play with Milan. Forward Ricardo Pepi has also been impressive, not missing a penalty since leaving MLS in 2022, while Haji Wright has scored 17 out of 19 attempts in the past seven years. Folarin Balogun has also contributed to the team’s penalty efforts.
However, the situation becomes less clear with other players on the roster. Defender Chris Richards jokingly acknowledged the pressure of taking penalties.
“For the people that go up and shoot it takes a lot of courage and it is not easy. Goalkeepers get better and better every year … The guys who feel the most confident to shoot will want to go up and shoot. I think that’s normal. There’ll be some players that don’t practice them as much and don’t feel good, I don’t think that’s necessarily a big problem. I feel it’s a pretty brave, courageous team, and I feel guys will give it a go.” Richards said. “I’m a defender for a reason, man,”
Examining Penalty Techniques
The style of penalty taking also varies significantly. Monday’s matches showcased unconventional methods, including stutter steps and short run-ups, with some players striking the ball across their bodies, resulting in two shots hitting the post in the Netherlands-Morocco game.
The USMNT observed these methods, but many of their penalty takers seemed disinterested in altering their techniques. Pulisic and others felt it would be impractical to change their approaches so close to the matches.
“We try to not think about the worst-case scenario … In training, though, we prepare for everything, whether it’s penalty kicks or [extra time], we try and not leave any stone unturned. For us it’s just about approaching this game with confidence but also understanding that things don’t always go your way, so be prepared for everything.” he remarked. “I think everyone has their own style. I don’t think you watch and can take so much away, or try and change your style in one day,”
Richards added lightheartedly, “I don’t have too much attacking in me, so I’m just picking my spot and going with it,”
