I think there’s more to it than just “practice.” I mean, I’ve seen some pretty darn good players miss penalty kicks in my time: Zico, Maradona, Platini, and Baggio, to name just a few of them. Maybe if they’d had the last names: Schultz, Müller, Platt, and Heinrich they wouldn’t have had any trouble with those kicks they missed!
Well, there was the so-called “Astle miss” from 1970…
I don’t think we have any significant evidence that they’re not a coin flip. No team on that (rather useful) link has more than 11 matches counted so we’re talking about tiny statistical samples. You could quite easily have a coin come up heads all but one or two times if you tossed it 11 times.
This is obviously true. I guess the major issue for me, as a scarred Englishman, is that there are some nations that just seem to be able to deal with penalties and others that don’t. It’s cognitively difficult to ascribe something as random when you keep getting burned by it coming down against you, even though logically you suspect that it is just luck!
You must be having a bubble me old china. Surely we can take the mick out of the Sweaties… it’s not like they’re likely to be involved in this thread, other than asking where they can buy Uruguay shirts.
We’re representing Britain
We’re gonna do or die
'cause Scotland cannae be there 'cause they didnae qualify
There’s the old mantra “You can’t practice penalties” which is often wheeled out.
Tell that to Jonny Wilkinson…
Yeah, I made that point at #149 too. Unsurprisingly, I am somewhat conflicted on the subject of penalty shootouts.
In this case I don’t really care what the statistics show: if the English team were to go up against the Mexican one on penalties, I’d bet on the English team prevailing, if I were a betting man. But if you don’t want to buy into that then that’s your business. Doesn’t bother me one bit.
I love that this thread has devolved into a bunch of people arguing that their own teams are the worst.
Thanks - it’s good to know I’m allowed to form my own opinions. I’ll carry on.
Just so long as you don’t say anything positive about the Germans…
Don’t mention the war!
FIFA 14 video game predicts Germany will win (sorry if that’s been posted)
I predict Luis Suarez will bite Ronaldo and not even get carded.
And for the record, I like Russia and the USA. $100 on either will win me lots of roubles. 
Yeah, I saw that. I have SERIOUS doubts that Brasil 2014 will go down the way that video game says it will. If the final DID come down to Brasil vs. Germany, first of all, Germany has a TERRIBLE record against Brasil head-to-head in men’s soccer. Second, even the Germans I know say that their defense, with the exception of a couple of players, isn’t anything to write home about right now, and third, I see no reason why Germany’s team would do any better in a tournament Final than Spain’s team did when it played Brasil’s team last year. I see the German team getting to the quarterfinals this year almost certainly. Maybe to the semifinals. But no further.
As I’ve already mentioned I don’t have much of a beef with the current German squad, and it’s never been about them “just being Germans,” anyway. It won’t kill me to see the German team lift the trophy in Brasil (though my memories of that team from over the years are such that I don’t prefer it), I just don’t think they will. But if they do (as long as they do so F-A-I-R-L-Y) then I won’t have a problem with it.
Apparently Reus is missing the WC after getting a torn ligament in his ankle in a friendly. That’s a terrible blow to Germany’s offence.
Bummer for them. Actually, for the first time ever I don’t think I’m pulling extra hard against any team. I’m looking very much forward to this tournament. Should be a great one!
Watching England v Honduras in Miami (or rather not watching them. …inclement weather has stopped the match). Based on the first 22 minutes I’m not backing England to leave its group. Little energy, no imagination. But I’d give Honduras a punt to win a game, I could certainly see them sneaking up on someone.
US actually looked pretty good against Nigeria. Or rather, Nigeria looked pretty mediocre against the US.
My main concern with the US in the WC is fucking up in the first 15 minutes and giving up a stupid goal. I hope that they take the approach that they took tonight of playing conservative early on to make sure that there are no egregious defensive breakdowns. As the game develops, they can move forward a little more and look to score. Then use a good fitness level to wear down the opponent.
They still have defensive liabilities, but I’m feeling a bit better than the previous match. On to Brazil.
Two goals for Altidore, so he can at least relax and play loose. I am quite happy that Nigeria has to fly to Brazil pondering a loss rather than the USMNT.
The USA and Ghana are going to have to play balls-out in their opening match, because whoever loses is done for. A tie would likely kill both their chances.
On the other hand, I think that the USA and Ghana are enough of a threat that Portugal and Germany won’t just blow kisses at one another in their opening match.