Why I Love Penalty Shootouts.....

[FrediKanoute]

Re: Why I Love Penalty Shootouts.....

Its only a small and rare select set of skills in soccer.
And they aren't the skills which mean its a soccer match.

They are a lottery most of the time. Being a great keeper doesn't mean you are good at saving penalties and the best players miss too.
Keepers shouldn't save penalty but usally do because they guessed correctly, the player stuffed it up or they moved early.

What makes them great are the pressure it puts players under and the way they resppond. How cool was Giggs (another great winger) when he stepped up to take a penalty. How cool was Lampard (he who let his country down). Yet you had the feeling thtat Ronaldo would miss. As for Terry........it was a Jim Stynes moment that's for sure!

[FrediKanoute]

Re: Why I Love Penalty Shootouts.....

Yes. A war of attrition which makes for exiting soccer not exciting penalty shots.

I thought with the amount of blood spilled on Wednesday night the dressing room probably resembled a war zone.

Seriously though, the teams had played 90 mins and then another 30 mins....penalties for mine was the best way of settling it - two teams locked together - time for individual glory to resolve the issue.......

[The Coon Dog]

Re: Why I Love Penalty Shootouts.....

'HAUNTED' TERRY APOLOGIES TO FANS

Chelsea captain John Terry says he will be "haunted forever" by his Moscow penalty miss that cost the club the chance of winning the Champions League.

In an open letter to fans on the club's official website published soon after the club terminated the contract of manager Avram Grant, Terry reveals how he has hardly slept since the end of the game and still hopes his penalty miss was a bad dream.

Terry, currently with the England squad, slipped as he went to take what would have been the winning penalty and when Manchester United's Edwin Van der Sar saved from Nicolas Anelka, Chelsea's dreams were shattered.

Addressing the club's fans, players and employees, Terry wrote: "I am so sorry for missing the penalty and denying you the fans, my team-mates, family and friends the chance to become European champions.

"Many people have told me I don't need to say that but I feel I need to, that's just me. I have relived that moment every minute since it happened. I have only slept a few hours and wake up every time hoping its all been a bad dream.

"I have had some amazing support from fans, current and ex-players, family and friends and I need to thank everyone for that. But I am a big man and I take responsibility for us not winning.

"I am and always will be Chelsea through and through. I will give my all on and off the pitch to win this trophy as a player and one day as a manager. And I am sure we will win it.

"That night in Moscow will haunt me forever and I feel I have let everybody down and this hurts me more than anything. I am not ashamed about crying.

"This is a trophy I have tried so hard year after year to win and it was just an uncontrollable reaction, I wear my heart on my sleeve, everybody knows that.

"The road to Rome starts here, we have to try and turn this experience to our advantage. I am very proud of how far we have come this season with everything that has gone on. Thank you for all your support for the season."

The Blues confirmed Grant long-predicted dismissal earlier in the day after two days of meetings and will now begin the search for his successor.

[The Underdog]

Re: Why I Love Penalty Shootouts.....

Did anyone think of Scott Welsh when Ronaldo took his penalty? Talk about stuttering run ups.

I love penalty shootous because English people are so bad at them. I mean seriously, who lets an Englishmen take the crucial penalty that could win you anything.

[LostDoggy]

Re: Why I Love Penalty Shootouts.....

Did anyone think of Scott Welsh when Ronaldo took his penalty? Talk about stuttering run ups.

Not really. One is a routine while the other is plain arrogance.