England Penalty Shoot Outs

• The first time England experienced a penalty shootout was during the 1990 World Cup semi-final against Germany. These tense situations, officially called "kicks from the penalty mark," are governed by rule 10 of the game, set by the International Football Association Board (IFAB). Shootouts are used in competitions where a decisive outcome must be determined on the same day. The concept of penalty shootouts was introduced at a major tournament during the 1976 European Championship. Before their implementation, drawn knockout matches typically resulted in replays a few days later. England had first-hand experience of this during the 1958 World Cup when they lost a playoff to USSR after finishing equal on points after the group stage.

  Loss or draw?

  We have consciously chosen to classify matches that go to penalty shootouts as draws. While this decision may be perceived by some as a cynical attempt to soften the blow of England's historic struggles in shootouts, we acknowledge that this is likely a factor. However, it's worth highlighting that England's penalty-taking prowess has improved in recent years, indicating a shift in their fortunes. The winner of a shootout advances to the next round or is crowned champions, while the loser receives nothing. Considering the exhaustive effort both teams put forth during 120 minutes of play before the uncertain outcome of penalties, we believe acknowledging a draw honours the efforts of both sides. It recognizes the intense battle that unfolded on the pitch, where neither team could be separated after two grueling hours of play.