England are once again in the knockout stages of a World Cup, with the spectre of a penalty shootout looming large as they prepare to face Argentina in the semi-finals. Manager Thomas Tuchel has indicated that he believes England might need to triumph from the spot twice on their path to potentially lifting the trophy in North America this summer.
Historically, England's relationship with penalty shootouts has been fraught with disappointment. Notable defeats include those against West Germany in 1990, Argentina in 1998, and Portugal in 2006. However, a significant shift occurred in 2018 under Gareth Southgate, when England secured their first-ever World Cup shootout victory against Colombia in the Round of 16. Since then, they have also won two shootouts against Switzerland, in 2019 and at Euro 2024, though they suffered a painful loss to Italy in the Euro 2020 final.
Tuchel has emphasised continuity with Southgate's meticulous preparation for penalties, stating, "We have a process in place. So we are prepared." He highlighted the existence of a robust penalty programme, developed with assistant coaches and background staff, designed to ensure the team is fully ready for such high-pressure moments. Approximately a quarter of World Cup knockout matches ultimately go to penalties, underscoring the importance of this preparation.
Leading the line for England in a potential shootout will undoubtedly be captain Harry Kane. With an impressive record of 109 goals from 123 penalties taken (89%), Kane has already scored 19 penalties this season for Bayern Munich and England, including a retaken spot-kick against Croatia in the group stage. Despite a memorable miss against France in the 2022 World Cup quarter-finals, Kane has not missed in any of his five career shootouts, employing a varied technique to keep goalkeepers guessing.
Another crucial asset is Ivan Toney, whose penalty record is nothing short of remarkable. The Al-Ahli striker has converted 58 of his 62 penalties, boasting an exceptional 94% success rate. Toney's ice-cool demeanour and unique technique, often staring down the goalkeeper before striking, have earned him a reputation as one of the world's best from 12 yards. Although he has yet to feature at this World Cup, Tuchel is expected to call upon Toney if a shootout becomes inevitable, as he did when Toney came off the bench to score in England's flawless Euro 2024 shootout against Switzerland.
Bukayo Saka is also a strong contender, having scored 14 of his 16 penalties (88%). Despite the profound disappointment of missing in the Euro 2020 final, Saka has demonstrated resilience and recovery, notably scoring in the Euro 2024 quarter-final shootout against Switzerland. This season, he successfully converted both penalties he took for Arsenal, indicating his continued confidence from the spot.