<p>The ultimate nail-biter, penalty shootouts heap all the pressure, hype and emotion of a World Cup onto one kick. </p>
<p>They are the cruellest method for ending tournament dreams. Some say shootout victories are too dependent on luck, and even that deadlocked matches should be decided by something fairer. </p>
<p>But surely it's impossible to imagine anything more dramatic than penalties. Neutrals can't look away; partisans can't bare to watch. </p>
<p>But how will shootouts be staged at the 2022 World Cup? The Sporting News has you covered. </p>
<p><strong>MORE: <a href="https://www.sportingnews.com/us/soccer/news/Qatar-%20World-Cup-November…; target="_blank">Why is the World Cup being played in November, not in Qatar's summer?</a></strong></p>
<h2>What are penalty kicks in soccer?</h2>
<p>Penalties can be taken in two separate contexts: as punishment for a foul inside the penalty box during open play, or to decide the result after extra time. </p>
<p>During the group stages, matches can end in a tie. However, from the last 16 onwards, a clear winner must be found. If 120 minutes of open play can't separate the teams, a shootout is called. </p>
<p>They're a test of nerve, accuracy, wit and even fitness. Mind-games play a big role and some takers prefer to avoid eye contact with the opposing goalkeeper, with the pressure generally greater on the player taking the penalty than the one trying to save it.</p>
<p>Goalkeepers get their opportunity to be the outright hero. They pride themselves on penalty saves and though the odds are stacked against them, an outstanding performance between the sticks often decides the result. </p>
<p>Portugal star Cristiano Ronaldo is one of the world's leading penalty-takers, while England keeper Jordan Pickford and Denmark's Kasper Schmeichel are confident going into shootouts. </p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">A penalty shootout was needed to decide the winner of the 2006 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/FIFAWorldCup?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Et…;... <a href="https://t.co/GmAfkbvWeW">pic.twitter.com/GmAfkbvWeW</a></p>
— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) <a href="https://twitter.com/FIFAWorldCup/status/1579850646458535937?ref_src=tws… 11, 2022</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<h2>Penalty shootout rules and how it works</h2>
<p>Blind luck is a key factor right from the start. A coin toss decides at which end of the stadium the kicks are taken (this can be changed by the referee for safety reasons if necessary), and another determines which team has the first kick.</p>
<p>With the teams gathered arm-in-arm at the centre circle, the first man makes the long walk to the penalty box — one of football's iconic sights. </p>
<p>Teams take turns for the first 10 penalties. Should one side build an unassailable lead, they win the shootout. If the scores are level after five penalties each, we go to sudden death, whereby the team behind in the shootout at the end of each round is the loser.</p>
<p>Goalkeepers must remain on their goal-line until the ball has been kicked — a rule that has seen many penalties re-taken in the Premier League in recent times. Stars such as Paul Pogba, <a href="https://www.sportingnews.com/uk/soccer/news/world-cup-injuries-2022-mis…; target="_blank">who missed the 2022 finals due to injury</a>, were forced to change their penalty style when the rules were adjusted to ban takers feinting once they have completed their run-up. </p>
<drupal-media data-align="center" data-entity-type="media" data-entity-uuid="77120c02-cfe0-411a-90d9-daf02d729764"></drupal-media>
<h2>How many penalty kicks are taken?</h2>
<p>If the first 10 penalties (five each) of the shootout don't find a winner, the result will be decided by sudden death, in which penalties are taken until one team scores and the other misses.</p>
<p>That means it's possible for the whole team, including goalkeepers, to take penalties. Players could even be required to take more than one spot-kick, but only after all other available members of their team — in other words, the players who were on the field at the end of extra time — have already taken one.</p>
<p>The longest shootouts in World Cup history saw 12 penalties taken. Both ended 5-4, with West Germany holding their nerve against France in 1982 and Sweden beating Romania in 1994.</p>
<p>Manchester United's Europa League final defeat to Villarreal last season went much longer, when goalkeeper David de Gea finally missed with the score 11-10 in the shootout.</p>
<p>According to <a href="https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/longest-penalty-shoo…; target="_blank">Guinness World Records</a>, the longest penalty shootout in professional football history took place at the 2005 Namibian Cup final. KK Palace eventually triumphed 17-16 against Civics after 48 penalties were taken following a 2-2 draw after extra time. Some players were required to take three spot-kicks each in a shootout that lasted nearly as long as the match.</p>
<p><strong>MORE: <a href="https://www.sportingnews.com/uk/soccer/news/spain-goalkeepers-world-cup…; target="_blank">Why Chelsea's Kepa, Man United's De Gea won't be starting for Spain in Qatar</a></strong></p>
<h2>World Cup penalty shootouts</h2>
<p>Only two World Cup finals have ever been decided by the cruel drama of penalties, both involving Italy.</p>
<p>Brazil lifted the trophy at USA 1994 when Roberto Baggio missed the crucial spot-kick. Only 12 years later, Italy reversed their role, with Fabio Grosso going wild after breaking French hearts in 2006.</p>
<p>England have a miserable history with penalties, going home following shootout losses to West Germany at Italia 90, Argentina at France 98 and Portugal in 2006.</p>
<p>After all that pain, victory over Colombia on penalties at the last World Cup was sweet relief for the Three Lions. Of course, they then lost the final of Euro 2020 at Wembley on penalties against Italy.</p>
<drupal-media data-align="center" data-entity-type="media" data-entity-uuid="a122bbdc-c1d1-4ae5-8afb-17845985c5fc"></drupal-media>
<p>Netherlands' nail-biting quarterfinal victory over Costa Rice in 2014 was a fine example of goalkeeping heroics in a shootout.</p>
<p>Tim Krul replaced goalkeeper Jasper Cillessen with seconds remaining in extra time and justified coach Louis van Gaal's huge gamble with a stunning performance, featuring some memorable mind games. </p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">🔁 One of the best <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/FIFAWorldCup?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Et…; substitutions ever?<br />
<br />
🎬 Rewatch <a href="https://twitter.com/OnsOranje?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@OnsOranje</a>'s penalty shoot-out victory back in 2014! <a href="https://t.co/1rFjcnj0NG">pic.twitter.com/1rFjcnj0NG</a></p>
— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) <a href="https://twitter.com/FIFAWorldCup/status/1570397647403376641?ref_src=tws… 15, 2022</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>