England's goalkeeping record in penalty shoot-outs has historically been a source of anxiety for fans, a narrative significantly altered by Jordan Pickford's emergence. The long-serving England No. 1, now preparing for his fifth major tournament, has faced scrutiny for occasional perceived lapses during matches, yet his prowess in shoot-outs remains a significant asset.
Pickford has saved four out of 14 penalties faced in major tournament shoot-outs, with notable stops against Colombia's Carlos Bacca in 2018 and Switzerland's Manuel Akanji at Euro 2024. He also played a role in Mateus Uribe's missed penalty for Colombia in 2018, with his movements likely serving as a distraction.
Penalty expert Geir Jordet, author of "Pressure: Lessons From The Psychology Of The Penalty Shoot Out," identifies two primary areas for goalkeepers to gain an advantage in shoot-outs, where statistical probabilities favor the attacker. The first is psychological, involving gaining control and initiative through calculated manipulation and distraction. Jordet points to Argentina's Emiliano Martinez as an example of a goalkeeper who effectively employs these tactics, escalating from initial calm to subtle confrontation and delay.
"No 1 is psychological,' Jordet stated. 'Taking control. Exaggeration or orchestrating a type of manipulation with respect to distracting and delaying the penalty-taker. Basically, gain the initiative and control through exaggeration.'
The second key area is technical, addressing the increasing use of stuttered run-ups by penalty takers. This technique, mastered by players like Robert Lewandowski and Harry Kane, involves pausing to observe the goalkeeper's movement before committing to a shot. However, goalkeepers are developing counter-measures. Jordet cites Croatia's Dominik Livakovic, who feigned a move to one side to mislead Harry Kane before changing direction, though the penalty was retaken due to Livakovic being off his line early.
Morocco's Yassine Bounou is highlighted as particularly adept at this counter-technique, employing a 'double-fake.' He makes an initial move that the taker anticipates as a feint, only to commit to that direction after all, as seen in his save against Ivan Toney in the Saudi Arabian league.
While Pickford's overall career save percentage stands at 17.5% (18 saves from 103 penalties faced), his record in shoot-outs for England is strong. This contrasts with other England goalkeepers like Dean Henderson (26.4% save rate) and James Trafford (36.4% save rate). However, Jordet emphasizes Pickford's extensive experience in high-stakes shoot-outs.
"Pickford has a good record in shoot-outs, though… certainly for England. I don’t know if there are as many goalkeepers in the World Cup with as many high-stakes shoot-outs under their belt. Since 2018, the FA has done such a fantastic job in researching penalty kicks. I expect Pickford to be a major asset,” Jordet commented.
Given the evolving nature of penalty-taking and saving strategies, Pickford's ability to adapt and incorporate new psychological and technical approaches will be crucial if England requires his expertise in a shoot-out scenario. The article suggests potential communication and practice between Pickford and Ivan Toney, known for his penalty-taking skill, as part of this adaptation process.