Southgate – penalty loser. He didn’t give it himself in ’96, now he’s bricked it with his decision

If any football fans hate penalty shootouts, it’s the English ones. And one man in particular who has been there for two major disappointments. Gareth Southgate would probably prefer if penalty kicks didn’t exist at all.

It’s 1996, the Euro semi-final between England and Germany. The game has reached penalty shootouts, with the first five penalty kicks converted by both teams. In the sixth series, Gareth Southgate sets up the ball, but Andreas Köpke catches his shot at the left post. The match is decided for the Germans by a penalty converted by captain Andreas Möller.

Southgate was one of the most hated people in England at that moment, the fans will blame him for the penalty failure for a long time.

England’s penalty curse then continued. At the World Cup two years later, Albion crashed out after a penalty shootout in the eighth round against Argentina. At Euro 2004, Portugal again took the piss out of England on penalties. The same opponent also eliminated England in penalty kicks at the 2006 World Cup.

In 2012 England went out on penalties to Italy, 9 years later they had the opportunity for a rematch. Harry Kane and co did everything they could to break the penalty kick curse, reportedly practicing penalty kicks over and over in training.

As proof of who the best enforcers in the team were, Southgate sent on two fresh players in the 120th minute. Marcus Rashford and Jadon Sancho. But the move went horribly wrong.

Neither of the Manchester duo scored, and Southgate inexplicably sent on 19-year-old Bukay Saku for the decisive penalty. He, too, succumbed to the weight of the moment and England continue to feed their penalty curse.

And the blood is on Gareth Southgate’s hands again after 25 years. His choice of enforcers didn’t work out well at all, a move with fresh players sent off only on penalties.

Source: Livesport