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Listening to Lineker et al after yesterdays pens I could not believe they were asking each other whether going first or second was the thing to do. No coach worth his salt would tell his team to go second. Those going first win rate is well over 60% as the team going second is invariably playing catch up. Also noticed last night that the Portugese coach chose all the takers without consulting them, Ronaldo went last as he used the reverse system of having his weakest taker go first etc. Most teams choose their best to go 4th as this invariably turns out to be either a winner or must score kick to stay in. These are a good read for an insight into stats and psychology of taking kicks: http://m.askmen.com/sports/fanatic_300/334_penalty-shootouts-how-to-win.html http://www.penaltyshootouts.co.uk/research.html Perhaps Roy needs to read up rather than dismissing it as pot luck. Argentina have a success rate of 73% up to and including 2010 whereas we were 17% and its now 14% after this one. Germany are second on 71%. Given those huge differences its no lottery as some of our stone age managers or coaches would want you to believe.