Penalty Shootout Preparation

Before any knockout game that might go to penalties, goalkeeping coaches compile detailed dossiers on every potential taker in the opposing squad. These dossiers include data on preferred sides, tendencies under pressure, change-up strategies, and psychological profiles. Goalkeepers review video in the days before the match and during the break before the shootout. Croatia's Danijel Subašić famously consulted notes during the 2018 World Cup shootout against Denmark and saved three penalties. His preparation — including reading the notes on his water bottle — has since become a standard practice.

Coaches select takers based on technique, nerve, and recent form rather than seniority or reputation. Research from the University of Amsterdam found that teams going first in a shootout win approximately 60% of the time — giving the first taker a significant psychological role. England's transformation under Gareth Southgate involved identifying willing takers early in tournament preparation and establishing a clear order that players knew months before any shootout. This reduced decision fatigue and anxiety in the moment: players knew their role and had mentally prepared for it.

Replicating the pressure of a shootout in training requires more than hitting penalties at an empty net. Effective preparation involves audience pressure (teammates watching), consequence structures (the penalty takers on the losing side do extra running), and unfamiliar goalkeepers. Some national teams bring in external goalkeepers specifically for shootout training to prevent takers from developing comfort hitting at a familiar 'keeper. Germany are known for creating near-game conditions in practice, including the noise of a recorded crowd and the use of floodlights.

Sports psychologists work with players on developing consistent pre-kick routines that act as anchors for focus and composure. This includes breathing techniques, a fixed walk-up sequence, a target choice made before approaching the ball, and self-talk strategies. Research by Dr Geir Jordet has shown that players who rush their penalty — spending less time on their walk-up and pre-kick ritual — are significantly more likely to miss. Argentina's Lionel Messi, who missed his penalty in the 2016 Copa América final, later spoke about how his preparation and composure at the 2021 Copa América and 2022 World Cup were transformative.