Norwegian sports science professor Geir Jordi analysed the behaviour and selection of England's coaching staff before and during the penalty shootout against Switzerland. What stands out is that The Three Lions Taking a completely different approach than what is usually accepted. All English penalties hit: quality or the result of this particular approach?
Things went horribly wrong for England in the penalty shootout at Euro 2021, when Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho and Bukayo Saka all missed from 11 metres and Italy were crowned champions. It seems that Gareth Southgate's side now want to be perfectly prepared for the shootout, so they have come up with a well-thought-out plan.
What is striking first is that after 120 minutes of play and before the penalty shootout, Southgate has only called up the 11 players who were on the pitch at the end of extra time. Logically, these are also the players who are allowed to take a penalty in the series. Only this squad and the “core” members of the coaching staff will be around Southgate before the season starts. Other members of the coaching staff, medical staff, substitutes and other support staff are not involved at this time.
When the series begins, the position of the English 10 in the centre circle is immediately noticeable. While many teams watch the penalty shootout with their arms around each other, England do not. The players stand next to each other in a loose position, but they are not holding each other. “This informal position makes it possible to provide functional mental support to each other, which is more important than pretending to provide support,” Jordi writes.
When an English player steps up to take a penalty, Jordan Pickford hands him the ball. The goalkeeper does this so that – in this case – Yann Sommer cannot distract the goalkeeper and, for example, throw the ball away. Pickford also did this during the final series of Euro 2021, but the novelty is that the goalkeeper now enters the penalty area with the penalty taker and stares at the opposing goalkeeper. “That way it creates a two-on-one situation against Sommer,” said Jordi. The on-duty referee no longer allowed this after England's second penalty.
Southgate also appointed a so-called “buddy” for each penalty taker. After a penalty, this second player would come out of the centre circle to “welcome” the penalty taker back into the team, writes Geordie. This is mainly to provide support to the player if they miss their penalty. Cole Palmer was met by Kyle Walker, Jude Bellingham by Luke Shaw, Saka by John Stones and Ivan Toney by Declan Rice. Trent Alexander-Arnold took the fifth and final penalty, so it was unclear who his “buddy” was.
Foden praises Hasselbaink
Phil Foden did a radio interview with BBC 5 Live Looking back on the penalty shootout against Switzerland, the Manchester City star praised Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink who he said played a crucial role. “He worked incredibly hard with us on penalties. He did that after every training session in case it came to penalties,” said Foden.
The striker himself was substituted during extra time against Switzerland, but then saw his team-mates make the difference in the penalty shootout. “They did it thanks to Hasselbaink. Every player was really confident. They shot them one by one. “Look, Jamie has a lot of experience, he’s been through everything as a player and he knows what he’s talking about. He decided to take some of us aside after certain training sessions to practise penalties.”
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