Penalty shootouts are soccer’s most brutal tests. What are the best strategies for attackers, goalkeepers and coaches?

Per The Conversation, new research examines the strategic depth of penalty shootouts in soccer. The 2022 World Cup final provides a striking case: ninety thousand fans in the stadium, one point five billion viewers worldwide, Kylian Mbappé's hat-trick, and Lionel Messi's two goals—yet the match still ended in a draw. When penalties began, coaches faced a pivotal choice: which five players would shoot, and in what order? Research suggests that this selection and sequencing could determine whether a team progresses or is eliminated.

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