It’s a position most players would die to have a shot from – in open play that is.
But when play is paused, the ball static on the spot, a footballer’s killer instinct in front of goal is quickly cast under doubt.
With all eyes on them, collective breaths held and the undeniable weight of expectation, the penalty spot is a place even the world’s best now fear.
In the space of a week, the undisputed two best players in the world over the past few years both came undone at the penalty spot.
First, there was an unusually anxious Cristiano Ronaldo who missed what would’ve been a match-winning penalty against Austria in the group stages of Euro 16. Going the same way as he had just weeks prior to win the Champions League final, the perils of the penalty spot got to Ronaldo this time around as he pulled his shot onto the left post.
While he did redeem himself in the quarter-finals by netting his penalty in the shootout against Poland, he opted to go first rather than his usual fifth, suggesting the penalty spot was making the Portuguese star somewhat nervous.
Then, with four Ballon d’Ors and countless club trophies to his name, Lionel Messi tentatively approached the penalty spot after 120 minutes of action in the Copa America Final with Argentina’s hopes of an allusive trophy visibly on his shoulders. Having long carried the burden of a barren international career, Messi had the chance to silence his few remaining critics with a single kick.
With Chile’s captain Arturo Vidal missing the first spot kick, Messi looked destined to give Argentina an early advantage and send them on their way to victory. Alas, the penalty spot failed to take destiny into account as Messi’s international career took what could be one final twist as he skied his attempt well over the crossbar.
Shirt over his head, in despair rather than celebration, Messi couldn’t avert his gaze as he saw his side lose another final. After some stellar overall performances leading up to this decisive penalty, it is sadly this failure that people may well remember most about Messi’s time in an Argentine shirt.
A time he abruptly has called short, for the time being at least, with the pain of a penalty miss and another failed final pushing Messi into international retirement.
If the world’s two best footballers missing from the penalty spot weren’t enough, international powerhouses Germany and Italy then went and underlined why penalties aren’t as easy as they look.
In their quarter-final clash, both teams failed to convert three of their first five penalties as Germany managed to grind out a 6-5 victory.
Among the big misses included Italian Simone Zaza who was brought on just for penalties and a tame Thomas Muller attempt.
Muller vowing post-match that he’ll be avoiding the penalty spot for the foreseeable future. “I will not be taking any penalties for the next two weeks,” he said.
“I will work on my technique at penalties for a bit and I will be back stronger in one or two months or so. I will take a step back and let others do the business for now.”
So it would seem that in a footballing age where players are bending in free-kicks from impossible angles, it’s the penalty spot the world’s best are having some serious trouble with.
Are you the ultimate team manager? Pick your own superstar team and go head to head with other football fans for glory and cash prizes on Draftstars. Imagine what you could be buying instead. Set a deposit limit.
Liverpool defeated Tottenham 4-2 and the Spurs manager played down any problems between Emerson Royal and Cristian Romero who were seen having some words…
The Melbourne Victory keeper made four penalty saves on the night as his side fought back from 1-nil down to reach the semifinals on…
Central Coast Mariners became the first Australian club to win the AFC Cup as Mark Jackson's side triumphed 1-0 over Lebanon's Al-Ahed to claim…
Mohamed Salah put last week's sideline spat withJurgen Klopp behind him by scoring first in Liverpool's 4-2 win against Tottenham in the Premier League.…
Paul Izzo has inspired Melbourne Victory to one of the greatest-ever A-League Men escapes as they rose from the ashes to beat Melbourne City…
After being a goal down and having a player sent off, Victory fought back to level in regulation time and win a shootout, thanks…
