The secrets of THAT historic shootout success

MILITARY PRECISION

THE approach was to leave as little as possible to chance. To break it down and prepare every last detail. From the moment the referee blew the whistle to mark the end of extra time, every member of the England party, coaches as well as players, knew their role. The daily rehearsals were done for a reason.

The pressure that exists in the knockout stages of a World Cup can never be simulated, even if teams can try to produce the physical tiredness a player might be enduring by waiting until the end of a training session to practice. But the process by which England execute a penalty shootout had been planned with military precision. ‘Should it come to that stage, we’re ready,’ Gareth Southgate declared on the eve of their last- 16 encounter with Colombia, and they were.

PICKFORD PLOY

SouTHGaTE is the manager but once the shootout begins Jordan Pickford takes charge, imparting advice and encouragement to every player as they make that lonely, terrifying walk from the halfway line. When Pickford strode forward from the goal to meet each of his five team-mates in Moscow, it was no spur of the moment act. It was part of England’s strategy. No other player can enter that half of the pitch so Southgate made a point of getting his goalkeeper to offer some timely support.

and he did so based on his own bitter experience at Wembley 22 years ago. With more than 20 million people watching at home on television and the opposing fans inside the stadium willing them to miss with their jeers and whistles, each player is passing through the gates of a sporting hell. Pickford was at least there to break up the journey, very much a friend in need.

MESSAGE ON A BOTTLE

EvEry penalty- taker needs bottle but Pickford appears to have had a special one of his own. Different from the drinks bottle he used during the game and handed to him by goalkeeping coach Martyn Margetson before the shootout, it seems it was inscribed with details of where Colombian players prefer to put spot-kicks, based on research conducted by England’s video-analysis team.

The sharpest eyes in Moscow might have noted that when Pickford and David ospina met before the penalty kicks began, Pickford had the bottle wrapped in a towel — presumably so ospina could not see the writing and warn his teammates. There was a suggestion yesterday the idea was borrowed from the GB women’s hockey team.

SKILL OVER STEEL

aCCorDING to sources, there weren’t any psychometric tests conducted on the players in a bid to establish who was best suited to taking penalties — only on the staff when they were being interviewed for their various jobs.

Dr Pippa Grange, the team psychologist, may have conducted some profiling on the players based on her dealings with them collectively and individually but the penalty-takers were ranked on technique. a player confident in his ability from 12 yards is always likely to be calmer and more composed.

SCOTTISH ADVICE

allaN ruSSEll regards himself as ‘the world’s best striker coach’. and judging by England’s performances, the Scotsman’s apparent arrogance is justified. russell has been credited with much of the work that has made this side so effective at set-pieces and it also seems he is behind the simple approach to taking penalties.

as ashley young said on the eve of the Colombia game, the players have been advised to pick the spot where they want to put the ball in training and then hold their nerve and stick to the plan come the game. Clearly, they will now be picking a new spot in preparation for Saturday’s clash with Sweden.