Penalty kicks are often described as a game of chance, but the reality is that they are an art that can be mastered with the help of knowledge of psychology and good preparation.
The British newspaper, Daily Mail, spoke to Norwegian expert Geir Gordet, who has written more than 15 scientific papers on penalty kicks.
Jordet said the crucial moments in penalty kicks are the 10 to 15 seconds before the kick-off.
He added, "It is important not to let the goalkeeper or any other opponent distract you, they will try to influence your focus with various tricks, stand away from them."
Jordet pointed out the importance of using different techniques to increase focus, and said, "You have to use techniques to control yourself, many of the big players now use deep breathing, focus on your breathing and think about the type of shot you will choose."
The Norwegian expert continued, "When the referee blows his whistle, take your time, you can take a breath and wait for 3 or 4 seconds before heading to shoot the ball."
He considered that the method of shooting differs from one player to another, and each has its own appropriate method. One of them may try to mislead the goalkeeper by directing the ball in a different direction, and another may not care about the player’s position and shoot the ball strongly at his chosen angle.
The expert believes that preparing well before the penalty kick increases the probability of success, which is what the numbers show.
However, the question that many may ask will be about the appropriate way to help the players avoid falling into the trap of being influenced by the cheers of the fans at a crucial moment that may give his team victory or crowning a title.
“It is not possible to simulate this pressure in training, but one can simulate the psychological aspects of receiving a penalty, and we can create a picture in the minds of the players of what the situation will be in the match, and help them choose the most appropriate way of how to act,” says Gordet.