Jordan Pickford’s penalty-saving heroics have not only secured England’s place in the Euros semi-final but have also put to rest the team’s historical penalty shootout nightmares. With his exceptional performance, Pickford has become a key figure in England’s penalty success.
Before Pickford, England had lost seven out of eight shootouts. However, since he took on the role as goalkeeper, England has won three out of four shootouts. The only defeat came in the Euro 2020 final against Italy, where Pickford still managed to save two penalty shots.
Pickford’s success rate in penalty shootouts is impressive. He has saved five out of 20 penalties he has faced. This is more than double the combined saves of all other England goalkeepers from 1990 to 2012, who managed to save only two out of 29 penalties.
One factor that has contributed to Pickford’s success is his cheat sheet water bottle. The bottle contains information about the likely shooting direction of the opposing players. This allows Pickford to have an advantage in predicting and saving penalties. However, there are concerns that opponents may now be aware of this trick.
Pickford’s success goes beyond just saving penalties. His pre-penalty antics, such as pulling faces at the opposing players, get into their minds and create psychological pressure. This mental aspect of penalty shootouts is something that England has been working on for the past six years.
The Football Association launched a penalty project team six years ago, which reached out to Geir Jordet, a leading sports psychologist and expert on penalty shootouts. Jordet provided valuable insights and tips on how to improve penalty performance. One of his suggestions was for goalkeepers to stall or delay penalty takers, as this reduces their scoring percentage.
England’s penalty takers have also been encouraged to develop routines before their shots to control nerves. Former player Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink has been involved in penalty preparation, providing valuable guidance.
Overall, Pickford’s heroics and the improvements in England’s penalty performance are a result of a concerted effort to address the psychological and technical aspects of penalties. The team’s success against Switzerland in the Euro 2024 quarter-final gives hope for future penalty shootouts.
However, it is important for England to continue evolving their strategies and tactics, as opponents will constantly be looking for ways to counter their methods. By staying innovative and adaptive, England can maintain their newfound success in penalty shootouts and potentially go on to win major tournaments.