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Ever since France midfielder Alain Giresse struck the World Cup’s first shootout penalty in 1982, a total of 342 players have stepped up to face the goalkeeper for the most nerve wracking test in football. We take a look at some of the players who took their shot at glory from the spot
Penalty shootouts have provided many of the World Cup’s most dramatic moments. Composite: Getty, Alamy, Reuters, ShutterstockTue 14 Jul 2026 14.00 CEST
France 3-3 West Germany (aet); semi-final, 8 July 1982
So it begins. The France team watch from the centre circle as Alain Giresse sends West Germany goalkeeper Harald Schumacher the wrong way to score the very first penalty in a World Cup shootout. Giresse later talked of his part in history: ‘It’s no longer a matter for your legs or feet. It’s your head.’Photograph: PA Images/Alamy
Brazil 1-1 France (aet); quarter-final, 21 June 1986
Penalty redemption for France as they eliminate a superb Brazil team containing Zico, Socrates, and Careca. The French captain, Michel Platini, embraces Luis Fernandez in the centre circle after he scored the decisive penalty to send France through to the semi-final.Photograph: PA Images/Alamy
Republic of Ireland 0-0 Romania (aet); last 16, 25 June 1990
David O’Leary celebrates after scoring the decisive spot-kick in Genoa to put Ireland into their first World Cup quarter-final. Ireland manager Jack Charlton later said of the penalty: “I didn’t realise he was the last taker … I’m not the greatest believer in centre-backs taking penalties.”Photograph: Ray McManus/Sportsfile/Getty Images
Argentina 0-0 Yugoslavia (aet); quarter-final, 30 June 1990
Even the greats have off-days. Despite a plethora of attacking talent on the pitch in Florence, this quarter-final ended in a cagey goalless draw. Up steps Diego Maradona to see his poor effort easily saved by Tomislav Ivkovic. Maradona was reprieved as Yugoslavia missed three times, Argentina prevailing 3-2 to set up a semi-final against Italy in Naples.Photograph: Mark Leech/Offside/Getty Images
England 1-1 West Germany (aet); semi-final, 4 July 1990
World in Motion, Gazza’s tears and penalty misses. England make their way to a World Cup semi-final for the first time in 24 years where they face old foes West Germany. An earlier miss by Stuart Pearce in the shootout leaves Bobby Robson’s side no room for error, but Chris Waddle balloons his penalty into the Turin night as England miss out on their first final since 1966.Photograph: Mirrorpix/Getty Images
Brazil 0-0 Italy (aet); final, 17 July 1994
Italy and Brazil were both looking to become the first nation to win the World Cup for the fourth time, but played out a drab affair in Pasadena. The Italy captain and defensive legend Franco Baresi fires the first penalty high over the bar. Roberto Baggio would step up to keep Italy’s hopes alive …Photograph: Bob Thomas/Getty Images
England 2-2 Argentina (aet); last 16, 30 June 1998
England and Argentina played out a pulsating 2-2 draw in Saint-Étienne, which featured Michael Owen’s wonder goal and a red card for David Beckham. With the shootout poised at 4-3, David Batty sees his effort saved by Carlos Roa. The penalty is perhaps best remembered for this exchange between commentators Brian Moore and Kevin Keegan. ‘Quickly, Kevin …’Photograph: Bob Thomas/Getty Images
Italy 0-0 France (aet); quarter-final, 3 July 1998
Luigi Di Biagio watches in disbelief as his penalty cannons off the bar, condemning Italy to the agony of a shootout defeat for the second World Cup in a row. The Roma midfielder admitted afterwards that he had never taken a penalty before in his life.Photograph: Gabriel Bouys/AFP/Getty Images
Brazil 1-1 Netherlands (aet); semi-final, 7 July 1998
Emerson jumps for joy after Dutch midfielder Philip Cocu misses his penalty for Netherlands in Marseille. Brazil prevailed 4-2 on penalties, only to lose 3-0 to hosts France in the final.Photograph: Simon M Bruty/Getty Images
Spain 0-0 South Korea (aet); quarter-final, 22 June 2002
Iker Casillas can only watch as Hong Myung-bo scores the decisive penalty to give co-hosts South Korea a famous victory over Spain. Hong was the team’s manager for the 2026 World Cup but failed to take them out of the group stage; a sort of reverse Gareth Southgate.Photograph: The Asahi Shimbun/Getty Images
Portugal 0-0 England (aet); quarter-final, 1 July 2006
Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates after scoring the decisive penalty as Portugal beat England to progress to their first semi-final since 1966. It was quite an eventual afternoon for the winger, having played a part in the earlier sending-off of Manchester United teammate Wayne Rooney.Photograph: AFP/DDP/Getty Images
Italy 1-1 France (aet); final, 9 July 2006
Despite having their captain Zinedine Zidane sensationally sent off in extra time, France made it to penalties in Berlin. David Trezeguet is the only France player to miss, smashing his effort against the bar. He can only watch as Fabio Grosso steps up …Photograph: Patrik Stollarz/AFP/Getty Images
Uruguay 1-1 Ghana (aet); quarter-final, 2 July 2010
The scoreline doesn’t begin to describe the drama of this quarter-final in Johannesburg. Ghana were denied a winner in the final minute of normal time after a Luis Suárez handball on the line, only to see Asamoah Gyan miss the resulting penalty. In the shootout, Dominic Adiyiah missed his effort as Uruguay held their nerve to progress to their first semi-final since 1970.Photograph: Dominic Barnardt/Getty Images
Netherlands 0-0 Argentina (aet); semi-final, 9 July 2014
Maxi Rodríguez celebrates with goalkeeper Sergio Romero after scoring the winning penalty over Netherlands in São Paulo, taking Argentina to their first final since 1990. After no goals in regular time – all the goals were saved for the other semi-final – Ron Vlaar and Wesley Sneijder missed their spot-kicks. Argentina advanced, but lost to Germany in the final.Photograph: Shaun Botterill/Fifa/Getty Images
England 1-1 Colombia (aet); last 16, 3 July 2018
After losing to West Germany, Argentina, and Portugal in past World Cups, England finally get the penalty monkey off their back. Eric Dier slots home the final spot kick to give the men’s side their first major tournament shootout win.Photograph: Juan Mabromata/AFP/Getty Images
Netherlands 2-2 Argentina (aet); quarter-final, 9 December 2022
The Battle of Lusail was a tempestuous contest which featured an astounding 17 yellow cards and one red. The bad blood spilled over into the shootout, as Argentina goaded their beaten opponents after Lautaro Martínez had scored the winning spot-kick.Photograph: Javier García/Rex/Shutterstock
Argentina 3-3 France (aet); final, 18 December 2022
The greatest ever final? Gonzalo Montiel is overcome with emotion after scoring the winning penalty for Argentina, who lift their third World Cup in Qatar.Photograph: Tullio Puglia/Fifa/Getty Images
Germany 1-1 Paraguay (aet); last 32, 29 June 2026
Nick Woltemade holds his head in his heads after having his poor spot-kick saved in the shootout defeat to Paraguay. Since winning the trophy in 2014, Germany are yet to win another World Cup knockout game.Photograph: Jewel Samad/AFP/Getty Images
Australia 1-1 Egypt (aet); last 32, 3 July 2026
Harry Souttar’s face is full of anguish after his penalty sailed over the bar during the shootout loss to Egypt at the Dallas Stadium in Arlington.Photograph: Maria Lysaker/Imagn/Reuters
Switzerland 0-0 Colombia (aet); last 16, 7 July 2026
Ruben Vargas celebrates after slotting the winning penalty past his namesake, Colombia keeper Camilo Vargas, in Vancouver. The Swiss is the most recent penalty-taker (in shootouts) at a World Cup, but there will undoubtedly be more.Photograph: Luke Hales/Getty ImagesExplore more on these topics
