WITH the knock-out stage of the World Cup about to kick off, the prospect of the dreaded penalty shoot-out looms large. So here is a potted history of the World Cup shoot-out.
The first match to be decided by penalties at the World Cup was the now infamous 1982 semi final in Spain between France and West Germany. This was the match where French defender Patrick Battiston was knocked unconscious by German goalkeeper Harald Schumacher in a challenge that would now lead to a nine-match ban but did even merit a yellow card back in 1982.
France, playing some wonderful football, led 3-1 in extra time before a typical German comeback saw it finish 3-3. Then, despite Germany's Uli Stielike becoming the first player to miss in a World Cup penalty shoot-out, it was the Germans who won 5-4 to reach the final. Thankfully justice was done when they were beaten by Italy.
The 1986 World Cup in Mexico saw three of the four quarter finals go to penalties. France and West Germany were both involved again; the French beating Brazil 4-3 after a thrilling 1-1 draw, while the Germans won again, beating hosts Mexico 4-1. Belgium then beat Spain 5-4 after a 1-1 draw to reach the last four.
But it was not until Italia 90 that the shoot-out first became a part of England's World Cup heartbreak. The drama had started in the last 16 where David O'Leary's penalty saw Jack Charlton's Rep. Ireland overcome Romania, before Argentina beat Yugoslavia in the quarter finals.
Both semi finals then went to penalties. Argentina became the first and so only side to win two shoot-outs in the same tournament by beating hosts Italy, before England faced newly-unified Germany. In what could have been the greatest moment in English football history since 1966, it was instead the Germans who triumphed after Stuart Pearce and Chris Waddle failed to find the target.
The 1994 tournament in America saw the first final to be decided by penalties as Brazil beat Italy 3-2 after a dull 0-0 draw thanks to Roberto Baggio's miss, but before that Belgium had beaten Mexico in the last 16, while Sweden had overcome Romania in the quarter finals.
The 1998 tournament in France saw more England heartache. The last 16 match against Argentina was another thriller, but after David Beckham's red card and Sol Campbell's disallowed goal, it finished 2-2 and Paul Ince and David Batty missed from the spot to give the Argies a 4-3 success.
Italy lost on penalties for the third tournament in a row as hosts France beat them 4-3 in the quarter finals after 0-0 draw, before a superb semi final between Brazil and Holland ended 1-1 with the South Americans triumphing 4-2 in the shoot-out.
Only two ties in the 2002 tournament went to penalties. Rep. Ireland were sent packing by Spain in the last 16, while the Spanish then suffered themselves in the quarter finals, losing 5-3 to hosts South Korea after a 0-0 draw.
2006 in Germany saw the second final to be decided by penalties as Italy finally struck lucky thanks to David Trezeguet's miss for France, but not before yet more England agony. Frank Lampard, Steven Gerrard and Jamie Carragher all missed as Portugal and the winking Cristiano Ronaldo won the quarter final shoot-out 3-1.
Earlier, hosts Germany extended their winning World Cup shoot-out run to four with victory over Argentina in the quarter finals, while Ukraine had beaten Switzerland in the last 16; the Swiss becoming the first and so far only side to miss all their kicks in a World Cup shoot-out, losing 3-0.
And so to South Africa in 2010. Only two ties went to penalties; Paraguay beating Japan 5-3 in the last 16 after a 0-0 bore-draw, before Uruguay overcame Ghana 4-2 in the quarter finals in the now infamous Luis Suarez/Asamoah Gyan match.
So as we await the knock-out stage in Brazil it is worth noting that only 22 of a possible 118 World Cup knock-out matches have gone to penalties - less than one in five. Unsurprisingly, Germany have the best record with four wins out of four, while England have the worst with three defeats from three. The only other side to lose three World Cup shoot-outs are Italy, although they did at least manage to win one, and in a final too.
Of course England and Italy will be spared more shoot-out heartache this time as they are both already on the flight home, but after such an open and attacking group stage with very few draws, will this become the first World Cup since penalty shoot-outs were introduced not to actually contain any?
I guess the next two weeks will reveal all.
