Peter Handke wrote the story “The goalkeeper’s fear at the penalty kick” – at the World Cup in Qatar it is more like: “The shooter’s fear at the penalty kick” Because this World Cup brought amazing things to light. According to the experts of the Technical Study Group (TSG) of the world football association FIFA, the number of saved penalties without penalty kicks is 36 percent, four years ago in Russia it was 17 percent.
There were also numerous penalties in the four penalty shoot-outs in Qatar – and consequently low results: 3-1, 3-0, 4-2 and 4-3. The last penalty in the tournament so far was awarded by England captain Harry Kane against world champions France (1:2). He shot the ball over the goal after a VAR decision after hitting the penalty spot (54th) to make it 1-1. The end of the Three Lions was sealed.
Former national coach Jürgen Klinsmann noticed something special about Kane’s missed shot. “One thinks. It’s a different story when you can shoot immediately after the whistle,” said the TSG member on Monday. The video proof took a while for the Kane penalty.
“It’s all about the timing”
So is the time between the whistle and execution poisonous for the shooter? It seems so, especially since the referees keep pointing out to the keeper for a long time before the execution that they have to touch the goal line with one foot. The real disadvantage for goalkeepers is now almost an advantage.
Babett Lobinger from the Psychological Institute of the German Sport University (DSHS) in Cologne replied with a view to the Kane-Elfer in an interview with the sports information service (sid): “Hopefully he has trained that too – he has to bridge the time and new the routine start. It does happen, so it has to be trained that way. There are no simple conclusions in complex situations. For example, why did he also try to take the second penalty?”
Also: The goalkeepers have obviously learned a lot. “This is about the timing, it’s about the first good step that you take as a goalkeeper,” added TSG member Pascal Zuberbühler. The development of goalkeeping on penalties is “incredible”.
“It has always been said that having to keep one foot on the goal line is negative and the goalkeeper suffers,” said the former goalkeeper, but it was “clear that goalkeeping coaches train that very well with their goalkeepers”.
Penalty saved perfectly: Argentina’s Emiliano Martinez against Dutchman Virgil van Dijk
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Image: AP
Former goalkeeper Faryd Mondragon (formerly 1. FC Köln), also a TSG member, praised the “timing” and “explosiveness”. Zuberbühler highlighted the performances of Croatian goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic, who impressed in both of Croatia’s penalties. Argentina’s Emiliano Martinez also saved “incredible balls” in the penalty shoot-out against the Netherlands, “he was so explosive”.
The penalty roulette could continue in the final four knockout games. And the goalkeepers should hope for a continuation of their winning streak in the duel with the shooter from eleven meters.
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