Mark Sochon

Every penalty carries with it a degree of pressure, a weight of expectation that cannot be relieved. A player’s performance for the prior 90 minutes often implies nothing when stepping up to the spot and beginning the long, lonely walk to start their run-up. Yet while some misses (and goals) can be forgotten over the ensuing week or month, some occur in such high-pressure situations, against such a momentous backdrop, that the result of the spot-kick will live long in the memory. We look at ten such penalties – spot-kicks which shook the world of football:

Holland vs Germany – 1974 World Cup Final

Paul Breitner scores

Holland had cruised to the World Cup final of 1974 playing an expansive attacking brand of football. It was little surprise when they took the lead against West Germany only two minutes into the showpiece and the hosts were soon outplayed by the likes of Johan Cruyff and Johan Neeskens at Munich’s Olympic Stadium.

However, on 25 minutes the Germans were awarded a penalty which Paul Breitner converted and the atmosphere inside the stadium was transformed. The penalty turned the game, which West Germany went on to win 2-1, and this match remains the defining point of the deep rivalry that exists between the two countries.

An efficient well organised German side beat a talented Dutch team packed with star names and this has become something of a recurring theme over the years. The course of history would surely have been different if Breitner had missed and the mindset of future generations for both sides could have been flipped on its head. As it is, Holland and especially the class of 1974, remain the best side never to have won the World Cup.

Steaua Bucharest vs Barcelona – 1986 European Cup Final

Marius Lacatus scores

The European Cup final of 1986 will always be more famous for its penalty shootout rather than a dull fare that charaterised the minutes which came before in a match that ended goalless. Incredibly Barcelona’s failure to beat Helmuth Duckadam in the Steaua goal would continue right through the shootout which saw the Bucharest goalkeeper save all four penalties he faced. The side from Romania faired little better themselves missing their first two spot-kicks, but iconic forward Marius Lacatus finally broke the deadlock and Steaua became the first Eastern European side to lift the European Cup.

 

This shock win paved the way for the most successful period in the history of the club and the Romanians would be back in a European Cup final just three years later, although the heroics were not to be repeated as the side lost to AC Milan.

A Barcelona team coached by Terry Venables struggled to recover from the defeat in Seville and the English manager was fired the following year. The Catalans would have to wait six years to finally get their hands on the trophy beating Sampdoria at Wembley in 1992.

England vs Germany – 1990 World Cup Semi-Final

Chris Waddle misses

The World Cup of 1990 was effectively decided by the ability of players to score from 12 yards. Both semi-finals went to shoot-outs, while the final was decided by a solitary Andreas Brehme penalty five minutes from time which meant penalty masters Germany won their third World Cup. Had England progressed from this semi-final showdown they would have fancied their chances of claiming a first World Cup on foreign soil against an Argentina side weakened by suspensions and injury.

Nonetheless the millions of English fans who watched Chris Waddle’s penalty disappear into the Turin night sky could not have predicted that shoot-out defeats would become a recurring nightmare for England in major tournaments over the coming years. This miss embedded doubt in England minds for decades to come.

Denmark vs Netherlands – 1992 European Championship Semi-Final

Marco van Basten misses

This match saw the start of a run of Dutch penalty shootout defeats that even England cannot rival. Surprise package and eventual winners Denmark, only at the tournament due to the disqualification of Yugoslavia following the outbreak of war in the country, held the defending champions to a 2-2 draw meaning the game would be decided on penalties. Only legendary striker Marco van Basten missed and Holland were denied the chance to face Germany in the final.

The Oranje would also be knocked out on penalties in the following two European Championships as well as the 1998 World Cup. The curse was finally ended in 2004 when the Dutch won their first ever penalty shoot-out, beating Sweden in the quarter-finals of the European Championships in Portugal.

Wales vs Romania – World Cup Qualifier 1993

Paul Bodin misses

A Welsh side that boasted the likes of Ryan Giggs, Ian Rush and Dean Saunders were in buoyant mood going into their final World Cup qualifier against Romania at an expectant Cardiff Arms Park. The Welsh had beaten the giants of the game such as Germany and Brazil at home in the past two years and were expected to secure the win needed to book qualification for the 1994 World Cup.

The match was level at 1-1 when on 63 minutes midfielder Gary Speed collided with opposition full back Dan Petrescu inside the Romanian penalty area and the referee pointed to the spot. Swindon Town left back Paul Bodin stepped up, having scored his three previous penalties in international colours, but his effort cannoned back off the crossbar. A late Romanian winner crushed Welsh hopes further and this would be the closest a talented generation of Welsh footballers would get to qualifying for a major tournament.

Italy vs Brazil – 1994 World Cup Final

Roberto Baggio misses

A disappointing final that produced no goals meant one way or another someone was going to become the villain of the piece. Although three other players missed in the shoot-out, Roberto Baggio’s woeful penalty, blazing his shot high and over the bar, will always be the defining moment of the 1994 World Cup. The Italian joined the likes of Van Basten and Michel Platini on a surprisingly long list of great players to have missed crucial penalties.

This was a very significant moment for Brazil, who had not made the final since their last triumph in 1970 and had never won the World Cup without Pele in their ranks. The victory certainly boasted belief in following tournaments and the South American giants reached the next two finals, winning the trophy again in 2002.

Manchester United vs Arsenal – 1999 FA Cup Semi-Final Replay

Dennis Bergkamp misses

A fantastic game and a Ryan Giggs wondergoal overshadowed the fact that Arsenal missed a penalty in stoppage time which would have almost certainly won the 1999 FA Cup semi-final replay at Villa Park. In a historical context, Dennis Bergkamp’s penalty, which was saved by Manchester United’s Danish shot-stopper Peter Schmeichel, was a hugely significant one. Not only would Giggs not have had the opportunity to score one of the greatest FA Cup goals of all time with a weaving, dazzling solo run, but Manchester United’s Treble bid would have been stopped firmly in its tracks. Already down to ten men, United’s ability to come back from the dead, which was to become such a vital part of their Treble success, was arguably formed in this game.

Sheffield United vs Wigan Athletic – 2006/07 English Premier League

David Unsworth scores

 

Both clubs went into the game looking to beat the drop on the final day of the 2006/07 Premier League season. West Ham’s victory at Old Trafford the same day and the controversial decision not to punish the London club over an ownership saga involving Argentine match-winner Carlos Tevez meant that one of these two would be relegated.

David Unsworth, a player who had been released by Sheffield United midway through the season, scored the winning goal from the penalty spot for Wigan five minutes into first half stoppage time, and in doing so sent his former employers down. Ironically Unsworth had missed a penalty earlier in the season for the Blades that would have given them two extra points, enough to extend their Premier League stay. Since relegation Sheffield United’s fortunes have taken a turn for the worse and this season (2010/11) the club slipped down to the third tier of English football, while Wigan remain perennial Premier League strugglers.

Chelsea vs Manchester United – 2008 Champions League Final

John Terry misses

After nine penalties, only Manchester United’s Portuguese star Cristiano Ronaldo had failed to convert from the spot and that presented John Terry with the chance to make Chelsea the first London club to win the European Cup. Terry lost his footing at the crucial moment though, and his penalty clipped the outside of the post on its way wide. Blue hearts sunk and Terry’s face instantly communicated the crushing blow that he had just inflicted upon himself.

United went on to win the shootout and London is still waiting for its first success in Europe’s premier club competition. If Terry had scored the impact for Chelsea would have been enormous, not least for manager Avram Grant, who surely would have kept his job had he secured the prize that Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich craves more than any other. A handful of managers later and Stamford Bridge is still waiting to win the Champions League.

Ghana vs Uruguay – 2010 World Cup Quarter-Final

Asamoah Gyan misses

Ghana were bidding to become the first African side to make the last four of a World Cup and carried a continents’ hopes on their shoulders as they took on Uruguay at Soccer City in Johannesburg. Goals from Sulley Muntari for Ghana and Uruguay’s Diego Forlan had sent the game into extra time and after 120 minutes the South American country’s Luis Suarez handled on the goal-line presenting Ghana with the chance to make history.

Willed on by almost the entire stadium and most neutrals around the world, Asamoah Gyan stepped up, but could only hit the crossbar with what turned out to be the very last kick of the game. Gyan bravely stepped up and converted minutes later in the shoot-out, though Ghana lost and could only equal the feats of Roger Milla and Cameroon two decades earlier by bowing out in the quarter-final.

What could have been a watershed moment for African football just was not to be. Gyan will be hoping his miss is not still being talked about in 20 years’ time as Africa’s closest brush with World Cup glory.