TEMPO.CO, Moscow - England manager Gareth Southgate knows all about the pain of missing a crucial kick in a penalty shootout and as he sportingly consoled Colombia`s Carlos Bacca on Tuesday night at the Spartak Stadium, the memories could not have been far away.
"It will never be off my back, sadly. That's something that will live with me forever," said Southgate said after the game when reminded of the Euro 96 semi-final loss to Germany where he missed the crucial kick in the shootout.
Southgate was mocked in a pizza advertisement following that defeat but he also learned a valuable lesson that had a huge impact on the World Cup last 16 win over Colombia – the shootout is not a 'lottery' and it is something you can prepare for.
"When something goes wrong in your life it doesn't finish you and you should become braver, knowing that you've got to go for things in life and don't regret (that) you didn't try to be as good as you might be," said Southgate.
After England secured passage to the knockout stage, Southgate explained how that mentality had translated into his thinking on penalties.
"I've had a couple of decades thinking it through. It's not about luck. It's not about chance. It's about performing a skill under pressure," he said.
"There are things you can work on, things that can be helpful for the preparation for the players. We have studied it. There is a lot we can do to own the process, and not be controlled by it."
That mentality and the preparation was evident in the way England dealt with the challenge of the shootout.
"I believed our goalkeeper would save one, and the technique of our players in taking them was superb. I have to credit our big support team who have done a lot of work in that area over the last few months," said Southgate.
REUTERS
