Terror by penalty

BY SAM BUCKLE

I don’t believe the All Whites have ever been involved in a penalty shootout (not in my time anyway). Thank goodness.

Admittedly, there is only one match outcome – a nil-all draw after extra time – that would result in the excruciating tension and drama of a tie-breaking shootout, but even that unlikely possibility is enough to get the heart racing (there was only result that could have produced a shootout in Australia’s World Cup return leg playoff with Uruguay in 2005 – but that didn’t stop it happening!). There's nothing more terrorising than penalties, as a player or a fan.

My first shootout memory is from the remarkable, dramatic, unjust, tragic (I could go on) 1982 World Cup semifinal between France and Germany. In the cruellest of twists, German goalkeeper Harold Schumacher, who should have been red-carded for a dastardly and cynical flying shoulder charge on French striker Patrick Battiston, emerged the German hero when he saved Maxime Bossis' penalty after scores were tied 3-3 at full time. The most incredible match of football I have ever watched. It left a huge impression on me. I found this mini (10 minute) doco on the game for those who’d like a reminder.

Everybody will have their own most memorable penalty shootouts, from Champions Leagues, FA Cups or Chatham Cups, but the penalty shootouts indelibly forged into my footballing consciousness are from World Cups - probably because the stakes are just so high.

I have always remembered the shootout between France and Brazil in the quarterfinals of the 1986 World Cup in Mexico. One of the French penalties actually ricocheted off the post on to the back of the Brazilian keeper’s head, and somehow ended up in the net (5:45 min in if you don’t believe me). Amazing stuff and it sent Socrates’ Brazil out and Platini’s France onwards.

Second, Germany’s penalty triumph over England in the Italia '90. Of course, we remember Chris Waddle (and Stuart Pearce) for missing, but I can’t help but think Peter Shilton’s age and lack of agility failed England that night. He went the right way every penalty but couldn’t get his hands to anything.

And we can’t forget the dramatic shootout that sent the Socceroos through to their first World Cup in 24 years. John Aloisi will forever be remembered for his final spot kick (and not for the fact he can’t get a start for Sydney FC in 2009). I blogged about the drama of that shoot out a few weeks back, but it is seriously compelling viewing. It gives you a sense of the occasion that could be, that might be, that hopefully will be, on Saturday night.

The cruellest and unavoidable reality of penalties is that somebody, eventually, has to miss. Somebody has to be responsible for losing. And in some cases, the “missers”, will be forever maligned for one single kick of a football – just one lapse in judgement, one moment of error in technique. Millions of football fans around the globe will always remember the image of Chris Waddle smashing his penalty over Bodo Illgner’s crossbar in 1990. Nor will Roberto Baggio’s miss against Brazil in the 1994 World Cup Final – no less - ever be forgotten.

Who would ever take a penalty then? Well, at least five All Whites might just have to.

So, I’ve selected my five brave penalty-taking All White soldiers (assuming they’re all on the park after 120 minutes):

1. Shane Smeltz. I can only remember him missing once, in the 2008 A-League pre-season cup final against Melbourne Victory. He takes a quality penalty.

2. Ryan Nelsen. I almost feel Captain Fantastic is destined, through his sheer force of determination, to see us through. He couldn’t miss, surely.

3. Simon Elliott. He has taken a lot of penalties in his time and after Nelsen has the most "big time" game experience under pressure, albeit nothing to compare to this.

4. Michael McGlinchey. This is an instinctive rather than an informed choice as I’ve never seen him take a penalty, but he seems to have good technique.

5. Chris Killen. I hesitated in selecting Killen because he took a very poor penalty against Italy prior to the Confederations Cup, which the Italian keeper jumped over, but one kick does not make a footballer and you have to have faith in your most experienced striker.

Yes, I hope it doesn’t come to this and, yes, I hope we kill them off in normal time, but as Ricki Herbert confirmed yesterday, penalty practice is “on the agenda”.

Picture: Reuters