England's Penalty Shoot-out Record
World Cup and European Championship Exit Through Missed Penalties
England have a poor record in penalty shoot-outs in major competitions. The England Under-21 team have followed their seniors but they lost in an enthralling shoot-out.
The England Under-21 team have gone the same way as the senior team and exited an international tournament with the heartbreak of a penalty shoot-out defeat. However, while the seniors have often gone out meekly, the young team put up a gallant effort in an extraordinary climax to the match. The young Dutch team eventually won 13-12 on penalties after the game had ended 1-1 after extra time.
Italia 90: England’s penalty shoot-out nightmare started at Italia 90 when West Germany foiled Bobby Robson’s Gazza inspired team in the semi-finals of the World Cup. Gary Lineker had equalised for England with ten minutes remaining but neither side could find a vital goal through extra time. The penalty shoot-out started so well for England, Lineker, Peter Beardsley and David Platt scored their penalties but West Germany matched them. Then the vital moments – Stuart Pearce, the current England Under-21 manager, had his penalty saved while Chris Waddle shot over and with West Germany scoring a fourth, they progressed to the World Cup Final.
Pearce and Waddle were consoled by manager and team mates but in time they came to terms with the disappointment and took part in an advertising campaign that mocked their missed penalties.
Euro 96: In 1996, football came home to Wembley with England hosting the finals of the European Championships. Terry Venables’ team were trying to emulate the heroics of Alf Ramsay’s World Cup winning team of thirty years earlier by winning on home soil.
The quarter-final game with Spain ended scoreless after two hours and Alan Shearer stepped up to take England’s first penalty. He scored while Spain hit the bar. David Platt consolidated England’s advantage with Spain then pulling one back. Stuart Pearce overcame the previous disappointment and made sure with his penalty to put England 3-1 ahead. Spain scored their second only for Paul Gascoigne to score England’s fourth. Then David Seaman became the hero by saving Spain’s fourth effort and England proceeded to the semi-final where they would meet Germany.
England had the perfect start to the semi-final. Shearer put them ahead after two minutes but Germany equalised on the quarter hour. No further goals were scored and penalties again were required to decide the game. Both sides scored their first five penalties – Shearer, Platt, Pearce, Gascoigne, Sheringham – but Gareth Southgate missed the sixth while Germany scored. Terry Venables’ last game as England manager ended in major disappointment.
World Cup 1998: The World Cup 2nd Round tie in Saint-Etienne started and ended with penalties. Argentina went ahead with a fifth minute penalty. Shearer levelled the scores with a penalty five minutes later. Michael Owen put England ahead five minutes later but Argentina equalised on half time. No further goals and Argentina scored the first penalty in the shoot-out. Shearer equalised and then Seaman saved Crespo’s shot only for Paul Ince to have his penalty saved. Argentina regained the lead, Paul Merson levelled the score. Argentina went ahead, Michael Owen matched them but after Argentina scored again, David Batty had his penalty saved. Exit England.
Euro 2004: In 2004, Portugal hosted the European Championships. The quarter-final tie in Lisbon ended 2-2. Owen gave England an early lead but Helder Postiga equalised late in the second half. In extra time Portugal went ahead but Frank Lampard levelled to take the game to penalties. David Beckham took the first penalty and shot over, giving the home team an immediate advantage which they took. Owen scored, Lampard made it 2-2 and Portugal missed. John Terry put England ahead, Portugal replied and both teams scored their next two penalties, Owen Hargreaves and Ashley Cole for England to make it 5-5. Then Darius Vassell missed, Ricardo saving his shot. The Portuguese goalkeeper then stepped up to score the deciding penalty.
World Cup 2006: Two years later in Germany at the World Cup, the two teams met again. A scoreless draw and penalties were required to decide the quarter-final game. Portugal scored, Lampard’s shot was saved. Portugal missed two, Hargreaves scored but Steven Gerrard had his shot saved. Postiga scored but Jamie Carragher missed and England departed another tournament when Christiano Ronaldo completed their misery.
Germany have an excellent record in penalty shoot-outs. Liverpool are exceptional at club level but England simply haven’t managed to come to terms with this way of deciding crucial World Cup and European games.
