Egypt's FEC, TRAIN partner to support food exporters    Spot Gold, futures slips on Thursday, July 17th    Egypt's EHA, Huawei discuss enhanced digital health    Egypt expresses condolences to Iraq over fire tragedy    Egypt, Oman discuss environmental cooperation    Egypt's Environment Minister attends AMCEN conference in Nairobi    At London 'Egypt Day', Finance Minister outlines pro-investment policies    Sukari Gold Mine showcases successful public–private partnership: Minister of Petroleum    Egypt's FRA chief vows to reform business environment to boost investor confidence    Egyptian, Belarusian officials discuss drug registration, market access    Syria says it will defend its territory after Israeli strikes in Suwayda    Pakistan names Qatari royal as brand ambassador after 'Killer Mountain' climb    Health Ministry denies claims of meningitis-related deaths among siblings    Sri Lanka's expat remittances up in June '25    EU–US trade talks enter 'decisive phase', German politician says    Egypt's Health Min. discusses drug localisation with Sandoz    Needle-spiking attacks in France prompt government warning, public fear    Foreign, housing ministers discuss Egypt's role in African development push    Korea Culture Week in Egypt to blend K-Pop with traditional arts    Egypt, France FMs review Gaza ceasefire efforts, reconstruction    CIB finances Giza Pyramids Sound and Light Show redevelopment with EGP 963m loan    Greco-Roman tombs with hieroglyphic inscriptions discovered in Aswan    Egypt reveals heritage e-training portal    Three ancient rock-cut tombs discovered in Aswan    Sisi launches new support initiative for families of war, terrorism victims    Egypt expands e-ticketing to 110 heritage sites, adds self-service kiosks at Saqqara    Egypt's Irrigation Minister urges scientific cooperation to tackle water scarcity    Palm Hills Squash Open debuts with 48 international stars, $250,000 prize pool    Egypt's Democratic Generation Party Evaluates 84 Candidates Ahead of Parliamentary Vote    On Sport to broadcast Pan Arab Golf Championship for Juniors and Ladies in Egypt    Golf Festival in Cairo to mark Arab Golf Federation's 50th anniversary    Germany among EU's priciest labour markets – official data    Cabinet approves establishment of national medical tourism council to boost healthcare sector    Egypt's PM follows up on Julius Nyerere dam project in Tanzania    Paris Olympic gold '24 medals hit record value    A minute of silence for Egyptian sports    Russia says it's in sync with US, China, Pakistan on Taliban    It's a bit frustrating to draw at home: Real Madrid keeper after Villarreal game    Shoukry reviews with Guterres Egypt's efforts to achieve SDGs, promote human rights    Sudan says countries must cooperate on vaccines    Johnson & Johnson: Second shot boosts antibodies and protection against COVID-19    Egypt to tax bloggers, YouTubers    Egypt's FM asserts importance of stability in Libya, holding elections as scheduled    We mustn't lose touch: Muller after Bayern win in Bundesliga    Egypt records 36 new deaths from Covid-19, highest since mid June    Egypt sells $3 bln US-dollar dominated eurobonds    Gamal Hanafy's ceramic exhibition at Gezira Arts Centre is a must go    Italian Institute Director Davide Scalmani presents activities of the Cairo Institute for ITALIANA.IT platform    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



England turn focus to knockout round
Published in The Egyptian Gazette on 29 - 06 - 2018

ST PETERSBURG, June 29, 2018 (News Wires) - England head into their last 16 clash with Colombia looking to improve on a poor record in knockout games in major tournaments and with half an eye on the risk of a penalty shootout.
Since the Three Lions won the World Cup 52 years ago, they have managed just a paltry six victories in knockout games in major tournaments.
Penalty shootouts have proved to be England's undoing on several occasions - they lost via penalties at the 1990, 1998 and 2006 World Cups, as well as the 1996, 2004 and 2012 European Championships.
Not surprisingly, manager Gareth Southgate says his team have been working on penalties.
"We've been practising and going through strategies on penalties since March. We've been doing studies and having individual practice and we'll go through that in an little more detail now," he said after Thursday's final Group G game ended in a 1-0 defeat to Belgium.
"We're aware the margins are going to be really fine in these knockout phases. We have to be prepared physically and mentally to go to extra time, and beyond if that's what it takes," he said.
England's last win in a tournament knockout game was 12 years ago when they beat Ecuador 1-0 in the World Cup in Germany but then lost the next game on a penalty shootout to Portugal.
Southgate himself has painful memories of shoot out failure as he missed the decisive spot kick in the Euro 96 semi-final against Germany at Wembley Stadium.
He later featured in a pizza commercial that mocked his miss along with Stuart Pearce and Chris Waddle, who missed penalties in the 1990 World Cup semi-final shootout loss to West Germany.
But the England manager later opted against appearing in a documentary about Euro 96, hosted by ex-team mate Alan Shearer, because he did not want to talk about his miss.
England's failures have become a recurring national joke, with acres of newsprint and even academic studies devoted to why their players are found wanting in such situations.
The conclusions have included the speed at which England take penalties - an average 0.28 seconds response time from when the referee blows his whistle - to being trapped in a decades-long cycle of failure.
Statistics suggest that players have an 89 percent chance of scoring if the team's last two shootouts have been successful. The figure drops to 57 per cent if they have failed, as England almost always have.


Clic here to read the story from its source.