5 penalties each. If tied after 5, sudden death. The team that wins the coin toss chooses whether to go first or second. Going first wins 60% of the time (psychological pressure on the second team).
Research shows: penalties aimed at the top corners have a 90%+ conversion rate, but players aim there only 15% of the time (fear of missing). The middle of the goal is scored 80% of the time because keepers almost always dive. But nobody shoots down the middle because it looks stupid if the keeper stays.
Matt Le Tissier: 47/48 career penalties (97.9%). The greatest penalty taker in football history.
Rickie Lambert: 34/36 career penalties (94.4%). Always sent the keeper the wrong way.
Cristiano Ronaldo: 140+ career penalties scored. The volume king. His run-up is iconic (and annoying for keepers).
2006 World Cup Final: Italy beat France after Zidane's headbutt. Trezeguet hit the bar. Italy won 5-3.
2012 Champions League Final: Chelsea beat Bayern Munich in their own stadium. Drogba scored the equalizer AND the winning penalty. Peak Drogba.
2022 World Cup Final: Argentina beat France 4-2 on penalties after a 3-3 draw. Mbappe hat-trick wasn't enough. Messi finally won the World Cup.
England's penalty record: Won 4, Lost 8 in major tournaments. The curse was broken at the 2018 World Cup (beat Colombia) and Euro 2024 (beat Switzerland). But they lost the Euro 2020 final on penalties. Saka, Sancho, and Rashford all missed. The nation cried.