Saturday, 12 July 2014

Penalties, legends and the self-fulfilling destiny

14:38

By: TBMU Admin On: 14:38   In:   No comments

Penalties, legends and the self-fulfilling destiny

Penalties, legends and the self-fulfilling destiny

Posted: 11 Jul 2014 02:00 PM PDT

The similarities between the penalty shootout and the shootouts of Spaghetti western films are obvious. Two hours of back-and-forth tension is ended. It's the battle between good (your team) and evil (the opponents). Death or glory. No middle ground. The drama even has the same name. The shootout. You don't nearly survive a shoot-out, just as you can't narrowly lose at penalties. As I was watching Holland beat Costa Rica on penalties last week, I was reminded of a line from The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance. As newspaper reporter Maxwell Scott tells US Senator Ransom Stoddard, after learning that Stoddard had not shot the eponymous outlaw: "This is the West, sir. When the legend becomes fact, print the legend." The legend, in the case of the World Cup quarter-final, was that Tim Krul was a penalty specialist – in Holland they call them 'penalty killers', to further the link with the movies. The truth was that Krul, who came on as a last-minute substitute goalkeeper specifically for the shootout, had saved two of his last 20 penalties (a 90% rate of conversion) and in fact Michel Vorm, Holland's third-choice goalkeeper, has a better penalty record, with three saves from 11 penalties faced (72% conversion). As Krul saved two of the five Costa Rica penalties he faced – diving the right way for all of them – the legend became fact. The self-perpetuating penalty legend When it comes to penalties and goalkeepers, reputation matters. While researching my book Twelve Yards: The Art and Psychology of the Perfect Penalty, I found goalkeepers whose journey to 'penalty killer' status was almost self-fulfilling. There was Mickael Landreau, the former France goalkeeper who saved a penalty on his Nantes debut when he was just 16 years old. From that point on, any opponent confronted with Landreau from the spot was convinced he was an expert, and would aim closer to the corner, therefore decreasing his own margin for error. As more players missed, so the reputation grew. Landreau was on the bench for France at the 2006 World Cup Final, and could have replaced Fabien Barthez for the penalty shoot-out, which ultimately France lost. "It crossed my mind for a moment," said coach Raymond Domenech on whether he had considered the switch. "But it's a heavy decision, it's tough for the one who goes off. If it was an average goalkeeper, that question comes up – but Fabien had stopped penalties before, and so we did not do it." Landreau even saved a penalty from Ronaldinho, when he was at PSG, by standing right next to one goalpost: the Brazilian rolled the ball straight at him. Something similar happened to Marcos. The Brazilian goalkeeper also saved a penalty on his first start for Palmeiras in 1996, but only sealed his 'legend' three years later by saving Corinthians midfielder Vampeta's penalty in the 1999 Copa Libertadores quarter-final. The next season, this time in the semi-final of the same competition, Marcos was again the shootout hero against Corinthians. His reputation as a penalty killer was secure. In later seasons, Palmeiras went on to beat São Caetano, Cruzeiro, and Sport Recife on penalties; Marcos even saved three against Atletico Goianense, but his team still lost. "It's good to know that I have respect from penalty-takers," Marcos wrote in his autobiography São Marcos de Palestra Itália. "My reputation as a penalty saver helps. But I want to stop this reference to me being a saint, a hero, that kind of stuff, because it obliges me to make Palmeiras win all our penalty shootouts, and that's not possible." Marcos had never claimed to be a penalty expert, but the myth surrounding his heroics against Corinthians grew and forced takers to adjust their tactics against him. In words that might come back to haunt Krul, Marcos went on to write: "I am tired of this penalty save. It seems that's all I did in my career, but a whole career is much more than a lucky stop or a mistake. I don't want my football life to be reduced to one penalty against Corinthians." (Though it wasn't: Marcos won two Brazilian leagues, a Copa Libertadores and was Brazil's goalkeeper for their victorious 2002 World Cup campaign.) Krul twist Van Gaal's decision to bring on Krul for the quarter-final was vindicated but had after-effects in the semi-final. When the manager had to replace the tiring Robin van Persie in extra-time, his third substitution had been made: Krul stayed on the bench for the shootout, which must have given Argentina confidence. Jasper Cillessen tried to copy Krul's penalty tactics, walking around the area and talking to the kickers, but it looked unconvincing. Why was he not being himself? Ahead of Sunday's World Cup final between Germany and Argentina there are a few other things we have learned about penalties at this World Cup. The main one, as Van Gaal proved, is that coaches can affect the outcome – for better or worse. The former head of British cycling, Sir Dave Brailsford, even suggested that coaches tell non-regular penalty-takers where to aim their penalties: "In times of stress, the first thing that goes are your decision-making faculties and this would give players one less thing to worry about," he said. A coach who allows his players to self-select the kickers and the order, as David Moyes did before Manchester United's League Cup shootout defeat to Sunderland, is not fulfilling his job remit. That's why Van Gaal's second shootout covers him in less glory – he suggested after the game that two players refused to take penalties. Again, it's his role to tell certain players that if Van Persie was not available, they might be taking on the job. The pressure on the players is considerable. Note that Chile's Gonzalo Jara and Costa Rica's Michael Umana both missed when kicking to avoid defeat in the shoot-out; a few days earlier, Umana had scored the winning penalty against Greece. This confirms a pattern: the conversion rate to win shoot-outs is 92% but this drops to 62% when kicking to avoid defeat; in World Cups, where the pressure is greater, that crucial conversion rate is as low as 44%. Umana, like Holland, has tasted both the glory and the pain of the penalty shootout.

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Suarez latest in Premier League talent drain

Posted: 11 Jul 2014 07:46 AM PDT

Suarezlit up the Premier League last season with 31 goals in33 games as Liverpool challenged for the title, buthas now become the latest star from England's top flight to leave for new shores. Approximately €500 million has been spent on the following players in transfer fees alone and, while that income has allowed Premier League sides to finance deals for the likes ofMesut Ozil, Alexis Sanchez and Diego Costa, there is a noticeable trend that England's top stars are now looking abroad. Luis Suarez - Liverpool to Barcelona The Uruguay forwardwas undoubtedly the Premier League's top performer last term as Brendan Rodgers' side sprung a surprise title challenge. Though controversy always seemed to follow him, Suarez's absence tears a huge hole in Liverpool's attack, which the likes of Daniel Sturridge, Raheem Sterling and Adam Lallana will be under pressure to fill. Cristiano Ronaldo - Manchester United to Real Madrid The last player to win the Ballon d'Or while playing in England, Ronaldo led United to three consecutive Premier League titles before moving to the Santiago Bernabeu for a world-record fee in 2009. The 2007-08 campaign saw the Portugal star rule supreme. United won the Premier League and UEFA Champions League, while Ronaldo's tally of 31 goals in 34 games saw him crowned Europe's top scorer. Gareth Bale - Tottenham to Real Madrid Suarez has dominated headlines this year, but 12 months agoTottenham's Welsh wizard Gareth Bale was at the centre of the close-season's biggest transfer saga. The wingerearnedthe PFA's Player of the Year award in 2012-13after single-handedly dragging Spurs through the campaign. Though his efforts were not able to secure a top-four spot, Real made Bale the world's most expensive player of all time, splashing out an eye-watering estimated €100m for his services. Carlos Tevez - Manchester City to Juventus Perhaps the only player able to match Suarez for controversies combined with talent in recent Premier League seasons, Tevez ended a turbulent four-year spell with Manchester City - which saw him captain the club to the FA Cup before spending severalmonths on strike - to join Juventus, where his goals helped the Turin side to a third successive Serie A crown. Mario Balotelli - Manchester City to Milan Balotelli arrived at free-spending City in 2010 as a talented but tempestuous 20-year-old, characteristics which would remain with him throughout his two-and-a-half seasons at the Etihad Stadium. Despitecontributingto the success ofRoberto Mancini's side on the pitch, stories of mad-cap behaviour off it persisted and bust-ups with his fellow players, as well as his manager, preceded a move to Milan, where he remains one of the game's most colourful characters. Paul Pogba - Manchester United to Juventus Though Pogba only made three Premier League appearances, his subsequent performances for Juventussuggesthe would have starred in England. Pogba has become a key cog in Antonio Conte's midfield and reports of Chelsea or Manchester United shelling out up to £60m to bring him back to Old Trafford indicatehe is seen as the ultimate one who got away. David Luiz - Chelsea to Paris Saint-Germain The Brazilian regularly sees his talents hailed and derided in equal measure, butisnow the game's most expensive defender after a reported £50m move to cash-rich Ligue 1 champions Paris Saint-Germain, which will see him link up with compatriot and international captain Thiago Silva. Yohan Cabaye - Newcastle United to Paris Saint-Germain Cabaye arrived on Tyneside in 2011 and went on to immediately become afans' favourite at St James' Park. After leading Newcastle to a fifth-place finish in his first season at the club, 2012-13 proved to be near catastrophic as Newcastle flirted with relegation. Reports of interest from Arsenal followed, but Cabaye joined the talent drain in January 2014, joining PSG. Ashley Cole - Chelsea to Roma Arguably the top performer of his generation in the England national team, Cole was not retained by Chelsea after his contract expired. Despite rumours of interest from Liverpool and former club Arsenal, Cole opted to extend his playing days in Serie A with Rudi Garcia's side. Also leaving Chelsea this month is Frank Lampard, who is expected to take up a contract with MLS side New York City. Javier Mascherano - Liverpool to Barcelona Maschaerano's introduction to the Premier League was a bizarre one as he and countryman Carlos Tevez unexpectedly arrived at West Ham in 2006, though the move was eventually found to have contravened third-party-ownership regulations. After playing just five league games for the Londoners, the midfielder was snapped up by Liverpool, where he became a key player under Rafael Benitez, helping them to the UEFA Champions League final before hewas lured to Camp Nouin 2010. Luka Modric - Tottenham to Real Madrid Modric signed for Spurs in 2008, becoming the club's most expensive player in the process, and backed up his pricetag with four years' worth of exemplary creative play in midfield. A protracted transfer saga lasted the whole of the 2012 summer transfer window, before the Croatia star eventually moved to the Santiago Bernabeu, becoming one of the first names on the team sheet under Jose Mourinho and his successor Carlo Ancelotti.

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Neville set to learn fate on Man United future

Posted: 11 Jul 2014 12:51 AM PDT

Phil Neville thinks a decision will be made on his future involvement at Manchester United within the next week. Neville returned to Old Trafford as first-team coach last July as part of David Moyes' backroom staff as the duo both arrived from Everton. Moyes' departure in April saw player-coach Ryan Giggs promoted to interim manager for the remaining games of last season and the Welshman has subsequently become new boss Louis van Gaal's assistant on a permanent basis. However, Neville is yet to discover his fate. But the 37-year-old – who made over 350 appearances for United – is in a relaxed frame of mind. "Football moves on and sometimes you have to move on," Neville is quoted as saying by BBC Sport. "My future will probably be resolved in the next five days." "I am speaking with the chief executive. "There is no fall-out. If I am not involved [as a coach] I am sure I will be able to play a part in it in other ways." Paul Scholes and Nicky Butt also helped Giggs when he took charge of the club last season, with the latter United's under-19 coach last season and also awaiting a decision on his future.

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Kuyt confident Van Gaal can succeed at United

Posted: 10 Jul 2014 07:42 PM PDT

Van Gaal's men were eliminated by Argentina 4-2 in a penalty shoot-out after normal and extra time had ended scoreless in Sao Paulo on Wednesday. The 2010 finalists failed to match their effort from South Africa, as Ron Vlaar and Wesley Sneijder had their spot kicks saved,sending the Argentines through to Sunday's final. Kuyt said despite their failure, Van Gaal will take a winning culture to the Premier League as he prepares to join United for the 2014-15 season. "There was only one thing for this coach and he just wanted to win this cup. That is the type of coach he is, he just wants to win things," the Fenerbahce man said of Van Gaal. "He is desperate to be successful and I am sure he is going to be successful in his next job. "The spirit is part of everyone. Of course the coach is leading us. But team spirit is amazing." Kuyt said the disappointment of the defeat was lingering, and he was not thinking about their third-place play-off with hosts Brazil in Brasilia on Saturday - a fixture Van Gaal has already called to be scrapped for future World Cups. "You see the team with the young players we have. Five or six of those players today are in the Dutch league and are in the semi-final of the World Cup. We can be very proud of the team," Kuyt said. "I am not thinking about the next game as I am so disappointed we didn't get to the final. I really believed in it and believed it was our tournament and we did well. "We were so close to reaching the final and I had confidence we could beat Germany. Now we have to focus on another game. "We did so well, we came so far that it would be a shame to go home with two losing games." Kuyt hailed his squad's depth, with Van Gaal using all bar one player as they topped Group B before a run to the last four. "The 23 players were really important and almost everyone played except for Michel Vorm, and that says a lot about this team," he said. "We are not 11 players, we are 22 players and an enormous staff of 26 people and everyone played their part in this success."

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