Dr Ed Coughlan: The science that shows shootout success is far from a lottery

Research suggests that those players who see penalties as a game of chance are more likely to have destructive thoughts during the process and experience greater feelings of anxiety

SHOW OF SUPPORT: England’s Marcus Rashford is consoled by Kalvin Phillips after missing his penalty in the Euro 2020 final shootout defeat to Italy. While it didn’t save England on Sunday, such supportive behaviour can have a positive influence on subsequent players. Picture: PA

The hottest topic this last week is the penalty shootout between England and Italy to decide the winner of Euro 2020. To many, shootouts are seen as a cruel way to finish a match, let alone a championship, but they are as fair a way as any.

There have been suggestions that a countback system should be employed as an alternative, such as goals conceded over the course of the tournament, or shots on target, as a more humane way to do things, but there will always be some teams so evenly matched that nothing can separate but five penalties each and maybe more than that.