SOCCER: Penalty preparation more important than ever as Germans collapse under spot-kick pressure

VANCOUVER — Germany’s shootout defeat to Paraguay on Monday sent shockwaves through the soccer world, as a team long regarded as nearly invincible from the penalty spot suffered a stunning upset and its first-ever loss in a World Cup penalty shootout.

In a tense, nerve-wracking finish, Kai Havertz, Nick Woltemade, and Jonathan Tah all failed to convert their attempts for Germany after the match ended 1-1 in regulation and extra time.

Paraguay also faced pressure in the decisive moments after squandering a two-goal advantage in the shootout. However, José Canale ultimately converted the winning penalty to send his side into the Round of 16 and eliminate Germany from the tournament.

The result underscored the psychological intensity of penalty shootouts, which remain one of the ultimate tests of mental strength in soccer.

Geir Jordet, a professor of football psychology at the Norwegian School of Sport Sciences and author of Pressure: Lessons from the Psychology of the Penalty Shootout, said the challenge goes beyond technical ability.

“The best penalty takers are specialists who have worked relentlessly for years to perfect their kicks,” Jordet told Reuters shortly before Germany’s exit. “There is always a technical component—how to strike the ball to get it where you want it to go.”

As the knockout stage intensifies, coaches and players often discuss how to replicate high-pressure situations in training. But Jordet argues that fully recreating match conditions is nearly impossible.

“It is almost impossible to recreate the exact conditions of such a big occasion,” he said. “A better question is to what extent pressure can be recreated and whether that has an impact on the outcome.”

He added that research on “pressure training” suggests that practicing under controlled anxiety can help players perform better in high-stress moments.

Jordet, who has analyzed more than 100 shootouts involving over 700 penalty kicks, also highlighted mental techniques such as visualization, self-talk, and structured pre-kick routines.

“Players can take steps to control the situation and avoid letting the opponent dictate the moment,” he said. “For example, restarting a routine if a goalkeeper becomes overly disruptive, or taking a brief pause and a few breaths after the referee’s signal.”

Ultimately, he said, penalty shootouts come down to a battle of skill and mentality between taker and goalkeeper.

“Small players don’t miss penalties because only big players take them,” Jordet said. “Those who take responsibility and miss deserve the utmost respect because they stepped into an extreme pressure moment like the World Cup.”

Germany’s exit adds another dramatic chapter to the tournament, while Paraguay moves forward with renewed belief after surviving one of football’s most pressure-filled scenarios. -Reporting by Philip O'ConnorEditing by Christian Radnedge/Reuters