Penalties have been a bit of an issue at Euro 2020 thus far. Of the first five taken in the tournament, only one was scored.
That is probably no coincidence. The pressure at major tournaments is always a level or two above other matches, while the return of supporters for the first time in over a year is also something that could have an impact.
We are also now 25 years removed from one of the most famous penalty misses in Euros history, with the two teams involved in that game set to meet once again this week at the same venue.
It came during England's Euro 96 group stage win over Scotland, a game in which Scottish midfielder Gary McAllister would miss a penalty.
The credit for that miss was bizarrely taken by Uri Geller, with the Israeli illusionist claiming that he made the ball move on the penalty spot with the force of his mind while circling over Wembley Stadium in a helicopter.
If you say so Uri.
Strangely enough, Ally McCoist confirmed that the ball did actually move just before McAllister struck it. However, with his teammate not having the best of games up to that point, he believes he should not have taken the spot kick.
Speaking on Talksport, he said that miss even completely changed the way he viewed designated penalty takers.
“Your eyes were like a psychopathic killer.”
Ally McCoist remembers Stuart Pearce’s expressions in the tunnel at Euro 96.
We got McCoist and Pearce back together to rewatch that 🏴 v 🏴 Euro 96 clash.
📺 Watch: https://t.co/efkOaL7lQt pic.twitter.com/YSEqhVcta9— talkSPORT (@talkSPORT) June 17, 2021
I actually took this into my managerial and coaching career after this. I never, ever said to anybody that they were the penalty taker. I always had two or three.
Before the game, it was decided that Gary [McAllister] was taking the penalties.
It was a great save, Gary struck it well enough. Just for the record, I was standing on the 18-yard line and that ball moved. People say 'you're joking', but I'm telling you it moved.
I always felt it was the hardest thing to do if somebody said to you 'you're taking the penalties', if you're not having a good afternoon the hardest thing to do is walk away. It's the right thing to do.
When I was a manager or a coach I always made sure that I had two or three boys willing to take penalties and that was it.
I have to say in hindsight, and I could have missed it as well, but I do wish I had taken it.
England would win that match 2-0, with Paul Gascoigne scoring an iconic goal moments after McAllister spurned his opportunity at the other end.
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