England captain Steven Gerrard says that he is not worried about the prospect of a penalty shootout at the World Cup despite England's terrible record at spot-kicks over the years
Ashley Young (right) is consoled by Gerrard after his penalty miss in the 2012 Euro quarter-final against Italy in Kiev in 2012. Pic/Getty Images
London: England captain Steven Gerrard insists the team will not become obsessed by the prospect of another World Cup penalty shoot-out.
Ashley Young (right) is consoled by Gerrard after his penalty miss in the 2012 Euro quarter-final against Italy in Kiev in 2012. Pic/Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT
Exiting six of their last 10 major tournaments on penalties means there is an undercurrent of trepidation that Gerrard understands.
The defeat to West Germany in the 1990 World Cup semi-finals began a nightmare run of spot-kick defeats that last struck at Euro 2012.
Gerrard netted two years ago as England exited to Italy, but six years earlier the England skipper saw his penalty saved in the World Cup quarter-final exit to Portugal.
"It's difficult to describe what it is like," Gerrard told BBC Radio 5 Live. "Unfortunately for me I failed in that situation when I took a penalty in a World Cup environment and it was a difficult atmosphere to be in.
"I learnt my lessons from that and a couple of years ago I scored the penalty I was asked to take. We are going to practise penalties a lot but it is a difficult situation to put into words and describe it. There is a lot of pressure.
Lot more time
"You have an awful lot more time to think about your penalty and what is at stake is a lot bigger and it is a pressure situation. A penalty shoot-out is a more pressurised situation than any one penalty in a league game." England last won a penalty shoot-out at a major tournament during Euro 96.
Manager Roy Hodgson has brought sports psychiatrist Dr Steve Peters away with the team and the players have been working hard in training to avoid such issues this summer.
"I can understand the fixation because we have failed in quite a few shoot-outs but I would say don't get carried away with it because it might never come about," Gerrard added.
Six
The number of times England have lost on penalties in the last 10 major tournaments
Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" Click here!
