How to take a penalty like a pro

World Cup fever is well and truly underway – there have already been highs, the lows, and definitely a few penalties, writes Tim Bennett. And scoring a penalty can be the deciding factor of many important football matches.

Previous major championships, such as the 2006 FIFA World Cup final and the 2012 UEFA Champions League final have been decided by penalty shootouts. And evidence from World Cup and European Championships has also shown that teams have a considerably greater chance of winning – than drawing or losing – when awarded a penalty within match play.