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Qatar World Cup: The pressure of penalties

We analyse penalty data from the World Cup and ask what boosts the chance of scoring from the spot

The World Cup in Qatar is drawing to a close. Penalties and penalty shootouts have provided some of the biggest moments of the tournament. We analyse penalty data from the World Cup and ask what boosts the chance of scoring from the spot, with the help of Ben Lyttleton, author of Twelve Yards: The Art and Psychology of the Perfect Penalty.

Presenter: Ben Carter
Producers: Lucy Proctor and Jon Bithrey

(Harry Kane of England misses a penalty during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 quarter final match between England and France.
Credit: Getty Images)

Available now

9 minutes

Broadcasts

  • Sat 17 Dec 202205:50GMT
  • Sat 17 Dec 202222:50GMT
  • Sun 18 Dec 202200:50GMT
  • Sun 18 Dec 202214:50GMT
  • Sun 18 Dec 202222:50GMT
  • Mon 19 Dec 202200:50GMT
  • Mon 19 Dec 202210:50GMT

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