True World Cup drama means only one thing: penalty shootouts (Feature)

By George Burns Jun 25, 2010, 12:38 GMT

Johannesburg - The last of the World Cup's 48 group matches takes place in Pretoria later Friday when Spain take on Chile, after which time the tournament's weapon of total heartbreak can finally make its entrance - the dreaded penalty shootout.

Since its introduction in Spain '82 as a means of deciding which team progresses from a knockout round match if both sides remain level after 90 minutes and two 15-minute periods of extra-time, the penalty shootout has been the source of torture and ecstasy for the world's football fans.

Of course, the pain and joy has not been dispensed in equal measure with the then West Germany seemingly cornering the ecstasy market since beating France in the 1982 semi-final after the match ended in a pulsating 3-3 draw in what was the first-ever World Cup penalty shootout.

The Germans were once again clinical from the penalty spot four years later as they sent host nation Mexico packing at the quarter- final stage. France recovered from their 1982 loss by eliminating Brazil at the same stage while Belgium prevailed against Spain.

Italia '90 was a bumper World Cup for shootouts as Ireland progressed to the quarter-final stage at the expense of Romania while holders Argentina booked their place in the semi-finals with a shootout victory over Yugoslavia.

The South Americans needed the same all-or-nothing method to get past Italy while the other semi-final was also decided by a shootout as the West Germans once again showed the stronger nerve against England.

Mexico showed that it isn't just the English who seem to have problems scoring from 11 metres by losing out to Bulgaria in a Round of 16 duel with Bulgaria at USA '94, with Romania also enhancing their loser credentials with a second World Cup shootout loss in succession, this time to Sweden in the quarter-final.

The tournament also saw the first final to be decided on penalties after Italy and Brazil failed to find the net in 120 minutes of turgid football.

Although Brazilian Marcio Santos and Italians Franco Baresi and Daniele Massaro all missed their spot-kicks, the iconic moment of the final at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena was the sight of a pony-tailed Roberto Baggio blasting his penalty over the bar to hand the Selecao the title.

England enhanced their reputation as penalty chokers four years later by going out to Argentina in the Round of 16, but the Azzurri weren't to be outdone, making it three shootout losses out of three in a quarter-final elimination at the hands of France.

Brazil, meanwhile, showed they had got to grips with the shootout concept with a semi-final success against the Netherlands.

After the rich drama of previous World Cups, South Korea and Japan offered just two shootouts with Ireland failing to repeat their heroics against Romania 12 years earlier, going out to Spain in the round of 16.

However, Spain are nothing if not inconsistent and La Roja promptly went down to South Korea in the quarter-final.

The only excitement in Ukraine's drab 0-0 draw with Switzerland at Germany '06 came after the referee blew the final whistle after a mind-numbingly boring 120 minutes of football.

The misery continued for Swiss fans, however, as their side missed all three of their kicks, and were beaten 3-0.

Hosts Germany continued to show that they are certainly world champions when it comes to shootouts by beating Argentina 4-2 in the quarter-finals and not missing a kick.

In contrast, England maintained their abysmal World Cup record by going out to Portugal at the same stage. But Italy proved in the final that even perennial shootout losers can have their day in the sun by beating France on penalties in the final at Berlin's Olympic stadium after the game finished 1-1 at the end of extra time.

The Round of 16 begins Saturday with Uruguay's clash with South Korea but don't be surprised if destiny decides we have to wait until Sunday's game between England and Germany in Bloemfontein.

England goalkeeper David James insisted on Friday that his team has done its homework and is ready to finally end its World Cup shootout jinx.

'The key issue is the homework,' James said. 'We've had videos on the three sides we've played already.'

However while the English team watch videos now, the Germans have been preparing for this moment for months. Over 54 students using laptops provided by the German football federation (DFB) have analysed every World Cup team using a specially-developed computer programme to store the information.

There is a reason why Germany have never lost a penalty shootout and Argentina goalkeeper from the 1990 World Cup, Sergio Goycochea, agreed with their thoroughness.

'It's simply wrong to say a penalty shootout is a question of lottery, it's a question of quality,' he said in Johannesburg Friday.