04/20/24
June 01, 2010
The Psychology of Soccer Shootouts: Researchers in Norway have unearthed a fascinating fact about shootout kicks: When a goal would ensure a team's immediate victory, the shooter scores 92 percent of the time. When missing a goal means a team's immediate defeat, the success rate drops to 60 percent. "It demonstrates so clearly the power of psychology," said Geir Jordet of the Norwegian School of Sport Sciences.
And prepare, prepare, prepare if you're the keeper. At the last world cup, Jens Lehman (the German keeper) had a list of all the opposition team's players and the direction in which they usually hit their penalties. He "guessed" right on all four of the penalties he faced and saved two of them. The English press treated such forward planning as something approaching cheating.
posted by JJ at 08:56 AM on June 01, 2010
I realise it's fun to poke "the English" at every opportunity around World Cups, (and we mostly deserve it), but I recall the bit of the English Press I read being quite impressed with Lehman's preparation.
Of course it's possible you're reading and referring to English tabloids, in which case, stop.
I still remember the 1990 Semi-Final shoot out where Shilton guessed the right way on four penalties and saved none of them.
To back up the Norwegians, there's Bobby Baggio's 1994 scuffer, but that was only the second worst penalty at that world cup.
posted by Mr Bismarck at 09:33 AM on June 01, 2010
The English press treated such forward planning as something approaching cheating.
Was the cheating question about Jens or about Ben Foster using his iPod?
posted by yerfatma at 09:57 AM on June 01, 2010
Baggio deserved to miss for the haircut alone. Likewise Diana Ross.
When I refer to the English press, I generally mean the tabloids and those tabloids that think they're not tabloids. I know that's unfair and misrepresenting the journalistic integrity of an entire nation, but it suits my argument, so I'm sticking to it.
For those of you who want to know how life felt as the English manager of the team that failed to get to the 1994 finals, someone has very kindly uploaded the whole of "Do I Not Like That", the fly-on-the-wall documentary about Graham Taylor's bid to get them through. Part 1 is here. [NB - this is not a comedy, but has the potential to make you weep with laughter. Steve Coogan couldn't have played it better.]
posted by JJ at 11:04 AM on June 01, 2010
A shootout sequence I like a lot was in the US-China Women's World Cup final.
Keeper Brianna Scurry looked over the line-up of Chinese players readying for their shots. She reviewed facial expressions and body language and identified the player she considered to be least mentally prepared for the moment, and said: "OK, that one is mine" and made the critical stop that set up the win.
Once publicly known, the details of that feat were largely overlooked in the ensuing public uproar and jubilation when Chastain hit the winner and went directly to the now-classic sports bra moment.
But when Chastain struck her cover pose on the turf, I was still caught up in thinking about Scurry's previous stop.
I wouldn't have noticed if Chastain was naked.
Yeah, right.
posted by beaverboard at 11:05 AM on June 01, 2010
At the bottom of the article yerfatma linked, there is video of Dudek during the Champions League final in 2005. I'm shocked to see that the level of my partisanship prevented me from noticing at the time that far from remaining on his line he was almost out of his 6 yard box when he saved one of the penalties. Surprised (but glad) that wasn't taken again.
posted by JJ at 11:06 AM on June 01, 2010
I wouldn't have noticed if Chastain was naked.
You're a better man than me then. I'd have noticed.
And what is it about the urge to rent one's garments from one's person in a moment of joy? I can't ever remember anything in sport making me so delighted I wanted to take my clothes off.
Well... not in public anyway.
posted by JJ at 11:10 AM on June 01, 2010
BASE jumping, heli-skiing, fjords and soccer penalty kick psychological studies at the School of Sports Sciences? Norway is wicked cool.
posted by WeedyMcSmokey at 11:29 PM on June 01, 2010
Awesome statistic. Interesting article.
As always, the best path to more success = practice, practice, practice.