Putting statistics on the spot

Four years ago in Soccer City, as the World Cup final between Spain and Holland ebbed towards a shoot-out, there was concern on the Spanish bench.

With just a few minutes of extra-time remaining, Vicente del Bosque turned to his assistant Toni Grande and said “We need to start thinking about penalties.”

Grande frantically tried to identify the Spanish players still left on the pitch who had penalty experience. Flustered and frustrated, he turned to the goalkeeping coach for advice. Ill-prepared and under pressure, the Spanish staff fretted and sweated. And then Andres Iniesta scored.