Penalty Shoot-Outs
Penalty Shoot-Outs
Commentary by J.Chiam
Penalty shoot-outs. The dreaded word every footballer wishes not to hear, every manager shunts at. Matches have been won and lost through it, and it comes with a hefty price to pay. Due to the fact that the match-winner cannot be decided despite having the game to go to extra-time, penalty shoot-outs was invented to settle the score once and for all.
Penalty shoot-outs. Either you make it, or break it. It is that simple as ABC. This is an event, where in split seconds, players turn from zero to hero, from football idol to football loser as well. Looking back at history, many great footballers have failed to deliver when it comes doing spot-kicks, and eventually not spared the abuse by the public and media during the aftermath of the disaster. Italian football legend Roberto Baggio ballooned the ball over the bar during the 1994 World Cup, eventually handing the match over the overjoyed Brazilians to claim the glory. Holland, a land flowing with multiple talents and gifts in football, have failed to come out of penalty shoot-outs successfully for the past four years, failing in three consecutive Euros and one World Cup. So much so that the supporters of the Oranje are suspecting that a jinx has been placed on them, disallowing them to score when it matters most. Many great footballers have become victims of penalty-shootouts. Roberto Baggio failed to rediscover his form and confidence for a long time since missing the shot, and probably had phobia of the sight of balloons for ballooning his shot. Football icon-superstar David Beckham became national public enemy number one for losing his temper at World Cup 1998. The reason? Not being able to convert the spot-kick for his wrestle on Diego Simeone. Devastation and disappointments haunt the lives of those that fail to put the ball into the fishing net. Instead of turning better, very often they turned bitter. And yet, on the other hand, it is a chance for many goal keepers to turn from ordinary to extraordinary. They become heroes overnight for saving a penalty, and their heroics are often remembered and praised at even years after the event.
Penalty shoot-outs. Taking a penalty has never been easier under these circumstances. A brief elaboration on the scenario. Having slogged out 90 minutes of competitive football, and 30 minutes of extra time given, the players are probably exhausted, mentally drained and dry. Generally this happens when both teams are equal in quality, and probably lady luck has bid both teams goodbye and farewell. From the very start since the first blow of whistle, the pressure to emerge as champions have been steadily and gradually building itself as though building the great tower of KLCC. Having placed that burden on the players’ shoulders for 90 minutes would be more than sufficient, but to the extend of extra-time would resemble a pressure cooker waiting to blow-up. As players take their places in the middle of the pitch, then comes the final walk. As one selected player strolls down towards the goal mouth, one would name the walk “The Lonely Walk”. For it is this time that the player is alone, and he knows that the next move will either make him, or break him. Supporters cheer their heart outs, with some praying and looking to the heavens for help from above. Emotions run high. The anticipation is tremendous. Ironically opposing supporters do the same thing, praying that the penalty would be missed. How hard it would be for God to make a decision during this time. As the ball is being placed on the spot, the striker needs to steady and calm himself down in spite of the adrenaline that’s been gushing in his brain. Keepers play mind tricks and distraction in hope of swaying the striker off course. The ball has been struck. Either left, right, or straight. The rest, is history.
Penalty shoot-outs. It is a cruel way to decide a winner. It takes away the beauty of football, the flair, and tactics, all the essentials that makes football what it is today. It is not so much a matter of skillfulness and tactics anymore, but it just boils down to who’s the first the crack under the gigantic weight of pressure. Aside from outwardly dazzling skills and war-like tactics, football also deals with the emotions of the heart, and brings out the character you are within. During these heart-stopping times, very often a person’s true character will rise beneath the surface, very often a person’s shell is broken to reveal the true person, and it is during these moments, that we will know who the true heroes are.
Commentary by J.Chiam
Penalty shoot-outs. The dreaded word every footballer wishes not to hear, every manager shunts at. Matches have been won and lost through it, and it comes with a hefty price to pay. Due to the fact that the match-winner cannot be decided despite having the game to go to extra-time, penalty shoot-outs was invented to settle the score once and for all.
Penalty shoot-outs. Either you make it, or break it. It is that simple as ABC. This is an event, where in split seconds, players turn from zero to hero, from football idol to football loser as well. Looking back at history, many great footballers have failed to deliver when it comes doing spot-kicks, and eventually not spared the abuse by the public and media during the aftermath of the disaster. Italian football legend Roberto Baggio ballooned the ball over the bar during the 1994 World Cup, eventually handing the match over the overjoyed Brazilians to claim the glory. Holland, a land flowing with multiple talents and gifts in football, have failed to come out of penalty shoot-outs successfully for the past four years, failing in three consecutive Euros and one World Cup. So much so that the supporters of the Oranje are suspecting that a jinx has been placed on them, disallowing them to score when it matters most. Many great footballers have become victims of penalty-shootouts. Roberto Baggio failed to rediscover his form and confidence for a long time since missing the shot, and probably had phobia of the sight of balloons for ballooning his shot. Football icon-superstar David Beckham became national public enemy number one for losing his temper at World Cup 1998. The reason? Not being able to convert the spot-kick for his wrestle on Diego Simeone. Devastation and disappointments haunt the lives of those that fail to put the ball into the fishing net. Instead of turning better, very often they turned bitter. And yet, on the other hand, it is a chance for many goal keepers to turn from ordinary to extraordinary. They become heroes overnight for saving a penalty, and their heroics are often remembered and praised at even years after the event.
Penalty shoot-outs. Taking a penalty has never been easier under these circumstances. A brief elaboration on the scenario. Having slogged out 90 minutes of competitive football, and 30 minutes of extra time given, the players are probably exhausted, mentally drained and dry. Generally this happens when both teams are equal in quality, and probably lady luck has bid both teams goodbye and farewell. From the very start since the first blow of whistle, the pressure to emerge as champions have been steadily and gradually building itself as though building the great tower of KLCC. Having placed that burden on the players’ shoulders for 90 minutes would be more than sufficient, but to the extend of extra-time would resemble a pressure cooker waiting to blow-up. As players take their places in the middle of the pitch, then comes the final walk. As one selected player strolls down towards the goal mouth, one would name the walk “The Lonely Walk”. For it is this time that the player is alone, and he knows that the next move will either make him, or break him. Supporters cheer their heart outs, with some praying and looking to the heavens for help from above. Emotions run high. The anticipation is tremendous. Ironically opposing supporters do the same thing, praying that the penalty would be missed. How hard it would be for God to make a decision during this time. As the ball is being placed on the spot, the striker needs to steady and calm himself down in spite of the adrenaline that’s been gushing in his brain. Keepers play mind tricks and distraction in hope of swaying the striker off course. The ball has been struck. Either left, right, or straight. The rest, is history.
Penalty shoot-outs. It is a cruel way to decide a winner. It takes away the beauty of football, the flair, and tactics, all the essentials that makes football what it is today. It is not so much a matter of skillfulness and tactics anymore, but it just boils down to who’s the first the crack under the gigantic weight of pressure. Aside from outwardly dazzling skills and war-like tactics, football also deals with the emotions of the heart, and brings out the character you are within. During these heart-stopping times, very often a person’s true character will rise beneath the surface, very often a person’s shell is broken to reveal the true person, and it is during these moments, that we will know who the true heroes are.
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