There was an interesting programme on C4 last night about the impact penalty shoot-outs have had on the relative sucess of international teams in the last 20 years or so - focusing heavily on England's ejection from several major tournaments by this route.

The real jist of the programme was that shoot-out's have exerted a significant impact on the results of major tournaments, and evaluated the differing attitudes towards preparing for them. There were several 'sports scientists' arguing that adequate preparation could significantly improve the chances of success - effectively by minimising the pressure/stress on the players taking them. They presented what to me was a very compelling case - and indeed one that has been fully accepted by the best exponents, Germany, following one failure some 20 years ago by this route.

They analysed England's approach, preparation and ultimate failure from Italia '90 to Euro2000. It has to be said that the attitude of each Manager involved - BR, Vegetables, and then Hoddle - plus one of the key penalty takers over this period - Alan Shearer - was absolutely pathetic. Talk about dinosaurs!
Their argument basically was that there is no point in practicing penalties because you can't replicate the pressure of the actual situation in practice -therefore there was a ready acceptance that it is simply a lottery that practice will not materially assist.

BR defended his role in the Italia '90 failure by saying they had indeed practised penalties - each main taker (only) taking 3 penalties in each of two sessions before the Finals, that is 6 penalty kicks each!
Vegetables admitted he had no organised penalty practice sessions before Euro '96, and Hoddle similarly defended playing golf in preference to practising penalties prior to Euro 2000 - even though he subsequently needed to ask David Batty to take the critical one, despite him never having taken a penalty throughout his professional career.
In several instances AS defended the lack of practice by indicating he felt is was pointless.

These dinosaurs gave a distressing glimpse of why foreign coaches are proving to be so successful in the PL, and why the British football 'establishment' seems so completely out-of-touch, outdated, and utterly closed-minded in their ideas and approach.

For the first time, I shuddered at the thought of Alan Shearer bringing this crass approach to managing the Toon.

The sports scientists were arguing that the chances of success in the penalty shoot-out would be significantly improved by holding back the better/calmer kickers until later in the shoot out. The rationale was that the better kickers would then take the penalties when the pressure was at it's most extreme, rather than the 'rabbits' who basically then face 'mission impossible' - almost predestined to miss. AS basically dismissed this concept out of hand as utter bollox!!

Fortunately, if not unsurprisingly, the two outside of Deutscheland who were entirely in touch with what the sports scientists were suggesting were Howard Wilkinson and Sven Goren Erickson.

Interestingly, one nation who has an even poorer attitude towards shoot-out preparation than England is Holland who have a 100% failure rate!

-- Anonymous, July 24, 2001

Answers

So what happens in the InterToto? Sheesh!

I didn't see the C4 prog but I believe you - and I agree with your comments. Take the "you can't replicate the pressure" argument to its natural conclusion. Does that mean they wouldn't practice outfield moves before a final as well as you can't replicate the tense stadium atmosphere on the training ground?

I think you missed one important bit Clarky. T0$$er$

-- Anonymous, July 24, 2001

I watched that Clarky - I agree it was cringe-worthy. I was surprised to hear Al's views given that he has been known to try to con opposition spies during training by practising pens on both sides or by sticking to the one he isn't going to go for in the game.

-- Anonymous, July 24, 2001

I think the thing that disappointed and scared me about Shearer's attitude was that it clearly gave no credence or consideration to other lesser mortals who may not be as confident about taking penalties as he is.
In addition, one was left wondering whether he would be quite so confident about taking penalty no.5 with the score at 4-4, or even worse 3-4?

-- Anonymous, July 24, 2001

Or against the unwashed

-- Anonymous, July 24, 2001

.......yeh, that thought also occurred to me Dave.

-- Anonymous, July 24, 2001

Shearer's stubborness shone through - the same stubborn streak that brings him back from injury too feckin early every time.

-- Anonymous, July 24, 2001

Mind you, I don't think I'll ever see the Sports Scientists All Stars go through to the WC final on pens. Unless they're up against Ingerland or Holland that is.

-- Anonymous, July 25, 2001

When it comes to it, pens are a matter of placing the ball accurately under pressure. Most professionals will be able to do this 8/10 times. Not too sure how much difference practice kicking the ball, in this instance, would make. Marginal or none I suspect. Al has a pretty good record in penalties, despite his practising policy. Besides, I'm sure sides that well practiced sides lose on pens as well.

-- Anonymous, July 25, 2001

..... the facts indicate otherwise Bobby. That's what the programme was all about.

-- Anonymous, July 25, 2001

So the experts reckon no side that practices pens loses? Ever?

-- Anonymous, July 25, 2001

No, they reckon that the international sides (all they have studied) who take the planning for PSO's most seriously have a far better record than those who don't.

They also argue factually that serious practising for all players likely to be involved in PSO's reduces the associated extreme stress levels, and improves the chances of success by around 20%.

Those with open minds find this worth taking seriously - eg. successive German Team Managers, and thankfully SGE. Among those who said they felt it was a load of bollox were BR, Terry Venables, Glenda Hoddle, and worryingly for us Alan Shearer. Seems some people are incapable or unwilling to learn, even following direct experience of failure on the biggest stage. Or is it simply a defence mechanism?

-- Anonymous, July 25, 2001