Euro 2024: how new psychology can help conquer the pressures of a penalty shootout

By Jonathan Rhodes, University of Plymouth

Every winning team at the European Championship since 2008 has had to succeed at a penalty shootout. It’s a harsh reality that turns dreams into nightmares. Just a single kick, a fleeting moment over in seconds, etches a player’s name into the chronicles of heartbreak or triumph.

England in particular has a difficult history with penalties, having been knocked out of international tournaments on numerous occasions that way. A failed penalty shootout in the final of Euro 2020 not only meant losing the tournament to Italy, but also led to a torrent of racist abuse directed at Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho and Bukayo Saka, who missed their spot kicks.

For many, the prospect of this ultimate test of nerve and concentration induces a sense of dread. In that moment, the weight an entire nation’s hopes rests squarely upon their shoulders, a burden so immense that even the most battle-hardened professionals can crumble. So, what can young players do to strengthen their resilience?

https://youtu.be/BHavxY8Fu5s?si=O_3Gkql6eILUYx3K

Take Max, a promising young striker I interviewed as part of my research, whose international debut tournament came down to a fateful penalty shootout:

The roar of the crowd faded into silence as I walked from the halfway line to the penalty spot. The only thing I could hear was the pounding of my heart, getting louder with each step. Then I started to doubt my abilities.

In that moment, the carefully crafted routine Max had honed through countless hours of training evaporated, replaced by a frenzy of uncertainty and second-guessing. His mind raced, replaying past misses and imagining the scathing headlines that would follow. He tried to think positive thoughts, but the more he tried, the worse he felt. With a heavy swing of his foot, the ball sailed wide, and Max’s heart sank.

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