THE PITIFUL GAME:

The science of taking penalties is revealed (Steve Connor, 8 June 2010m Independent)

Scientists have some advice for England players in the event of a penalty shoot-out in the World Cup. Ignore the goalkeeper, pick a spot in the goal where you want the ball to go and aim your kick accordingly – preferably without falling over.

The advice for how to kick the perfect penalty may seem obvious but a study has shown that one of the biggest problems facing players in the high-anxiety situation of a shoot-out is the tendency of the penalty-takers to be distracted by looking at the goalkeeper.

The researchers found that when penalty-takers are tense they tend to look at the goalkeeper more than they would when they are relaxed. This leads them unwittingly to aim the ball into the arms of the opposing keeper.

And they wonder why Americans make so much fun of them?

Posted by Orrin Judd at June 8, 2010 6:18 PM