What is a Penalty Shootout?

Quick overview:

What is circulation?
Distinguishing between penalty shootouts and penalty kicks.
Penalty shootout procedure
Rules regarding penalty shootouts
Is the cycle of events based on chance or scientific analysis?
Psychological factors and tactics in penalty shootouts.
Controversy surrounding penalty shootouts.

What is circulation?

A penalty shootout, officially known as a "kicks from the penalty mark," is a method used to determine the winner in knockout matches when the score is tied after regular time and extra time (if any). It is the last resort after other methods such as the away goals rule or extra time have failed to determine a winner.

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Illustration: AI

Before penalty shootouts were invented, knockout matches ending in a draw were often decided by coin toss or a draw. A prime example is Italy's victory over the Soviet Union in the Euro 1968 semi-final thanks to a coin toss.

The idea for the modern penalty shootout is believed to have originated with Israeli journalist Yosef Dagan after the Israeli team lost to Bulgaria in the 1968 Olympic quarterfinals due to a draw. Former German referee Karl Wald also claimed to have proposed the idea in 1970.

This initiative was adopted by the International Football Association Board (IFAB) on June 27, 1970. The first professional match to go to a penalty shootout was between Hull City and Manchester United in the Watney Cup (England) in 1970. George Best took the first penalty. The first major international final decided by a penalty shootout was the Euro 1976 final between Czechoslovakia and West Germany, with Antonín Panenka's classic "Panenka" penalty. The first penalty shootout in a World Cup final was in the 1982 semi-final between West Germany and France.

According to FIFA regulations and most football organizations, the results of penalty shootouts are not included in the official match results.

Match result: The match is still recorded as a draw. The team that wins the penalty shootout is only considered to advance to the next round or become the champion.
Goals: Goals scored in penalty shootouts do not count towards a player's individual achievements (e.g., for the Golden Boot award) or the team's overall record.
Ranking system: Ranking systems may have their own scoring methods.

Distinguishing between penalty shootouts and penalty kicks.

Although both are shots taken from 11 meters, penalty kicks and shootouts differ fundamentally in context, purpose, and certain rules.

Criteria	Penalty Shootout	Penalty Kick
Context	This takes place after the match (including extra time) has ended in a draw.	Occurs during regular time or extra time.
Purpose	It is a method used to determine the overall winning team of the match.	It is a penalty for the defending team that commits a serious foul in the penalty area.
The rule of alluvial deposits	Players are only allowed to kick the ball once. It is not permitted to take a rebound shot after the ball has already been kicked.	The player taking the free kick or a teammate can rush in to take a rebound shot if the goalkeeper saves the ball or if the ball bounces off the post/crossbar and is still in play.
Quantity	Each team takes at least 5 alternating penalty kicks, which can be extended if the score remains tied.	There is only one penalty kick allowed for each foul.

Penalty shootout procedure

The procedure for conducting a penalty shootout is strictly regulated in Law 10 of the IFAB.

Choosing the goal and which team takes first: The referee tosses a coin to decide which goal will be used for the shots. Then, the referee tosses a coin a second time to determine which team will take the first shot.
Player positioning: All players, except the player taking the shot and the two goalkeepers, must stand within the center circle of the pitch. The goalkeeper of the team taking the shot will stand at the intersection of the goal line and the sideline of the penalty area.
Taking the penalty kick: Each penalty kick is taken from the penalty spot (11 meters from the goal). The opposing goalkeeper must stand on the line between the goalposts until the ball is kicked.
Touch limit: Each player is only allowed to kick the ball once. After kicking, they are not allowed to touch the ball again.
Valid goal: A goal is awarded if the ball crosses the goal line. The ball may touch the goalkeeper, the post, or the crossbar multiple times before going into the net, as long as the movement of the ball is the result of the initial shot.
The first 5 rounds of penalties : Each team takes turns taking 5 penalty kicks. The penalty shootout ends early if one team creates a goal difference that the other team cannot bridge in the remaining rounds.
"Sudden Death": If the score is still tied after 5 rounds of penalties, the two teams will continue to take one round at a time. The team that successfully scores while the other team misses wins.
Participating Players: Only players who were on the field at the end of the match are allowed to take part in the penalty shootout. If one team has more players than the other (due to red cards or injuries), that team must reduce the number of players participating in the shootout to match their opponent's number.
Shooting order: Each player is only allowed a second shot after all eligible players on the team (including the goalkeeper) have taken their first shot.

Rules regarding penalty shootouts

For Goalkeepers: According to the latest FIFA rules, the goalkeeper must have at least one foot on or behind the goal line at the time an opposing player takes a shot. Goalkeepers are not allowed to distract, taunt, or delay the shooter. Violations may result in a yellow card or a retake of the penalty kick.
For the Shooter: The player must take the shot in a continuous motion. Stopping completely after the run-up is not permitted. If this rule is violated, the goal (if any) will be disallowed.
VAR technology: VAR is used to check for potential errors, such as a goalkeeper moving too early off the goal line or a player taking a foul.

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Illustration: AI

Is the cycle of events based on chance or scientific analysis?

The concept of penalty shootouts has shifted from "luck" to "science." Top European teams have spent hundreds of thousands of dollars hiring analysts and accessing large databases like Opta's, with costs potentially reaching $400,000 for three months.

Analyzing Player Trends: Analysts review thousands of videos to find patterns in players' shots. Even the best players have "subconscious patterns." For example, Brazilian striker Neymar almost always aims to the right of the goalkeeper or the bottom middle. With his characteristic run-up, shooting to the left is very difficult for him.
Goalkeeper tendency analysis: Goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois (Belgium) tends to dive to the right. Therefore, players who are more adept at shooting to the left will have a higher success rate when facing him.
Statistical models: For players who shoot infrequently or change the direction of their shots frequently, analysts use complex statistical models (similar to those in financial trading) to predict the direction of the next shot based on the previous shooting sequence (e.g., "left, left, center, right, center").
Analyzing body language: Small movements by a player can reveal the direction of the shot. For example, if a player extends their body when preparing to shoot, they are more likely to aim to the left of the goalkeeper. Daniel Memmert, advisor to the German national team, emphasizes the importance of good body language (chest open, shoulders back, always looking at the goalkeeper) to make the shot harder for opponents to predict.
Analyzing the "Golden Shooting Angle": A scientific study conducted by the US women's national team's expert team after the 2016 Olympics showed that the top third of the goal has a 100% chance of scoring. If shot accurately into this area, the shot is almost impossible to stop. Former football legend Alan Shearer also confirmed this as his preferred shooting angle.

Psychological factors and tactics in penalty shootouts.

Psychology is a key factor in determining success or failure in penalty shootouts. The immense pressure can affect even the most experienced players.

Simplicity: The simpler the approach, the higher the probability of success. Experts like Mile Jedinak (100% career success rate) typically take a short run-up, predetermine the shooting angle, and execute a powerful, accurate kick.
Concentration: Top penalty takers like Cristiano Ronaldo often keep their heads down and focus completely on the ball, helping them maintain their initial shot direction and avoid being distracted by the goalkeeper.
Complexity backfires: Attempting to add more intricate movements or complicated run-ups often increases the chances of missing the penalty, as was the case with Simone Zaza (Euro 2016) or Marcus Rashford (Euro 2020).
Goalkeepers can employ various tactics to put pressure on and distract shooting players, such as feigning a dive (Kasper Schmeichel often feigned diving to one side before diving in the opposite direction), positioning off-center (goalkeepers may position slightly to one side of the goal to make players think there is more space on the other side. Unconsciously, players will tend to shoot towards the area with more space, and the goalkeeper will dive in that direction), and creating distractions (Fabian Barthez once positioned himself completely off-center to create pressure, or Bruce Grobbelaar with his famous "noodle leg" move in the 1984 European Cup final).

Controversy surrounding penalty shootouts.

Penalty shootouts are both one of the most dramatic and controversial moments in football.

Fair method: This is considered a fair way to determine winners and losers, replacing the coin toss method.
A test of character: The penalty shootout is the ultimate battle of wits, showcasing the steely resolve and composure of the players under extreme pressure.
Creating drama: These penalty shootouts always bring overwhelming emotions to fans, being moments that decide glory or defeat.
Loss of teamwork: Some critics argue that penalty shootouts detract from the essence of football as a team sport , as the outcome of the match becomes dependent on individual confrontations.
Science takes away emotion: The excessive application of science, data, and technology (similar to VAR) is said to make the game "mechanical," disruptive, and devoid of natural emotions and "human" mistakes, which are an integral part of football.