Best goalkeeper performances in World Cup penalty shootouts
Very rarely are the heroes celebrated in penalty shootouts. Often, it's those that have failed that steal the limelight.
It's a cruel mini-game, but it's where goalkeepers can thrust themselves into football folklore.
We've seen some heroic performances from those tasked with keeping the penalties out over the years, and here are some of the best in World Cup history.
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- The best penalty shootouts in World Cup history
1. Harald Schumacher vs France (1982)
The West German goalkeeper should not have even been given the chance to help his country into the 1982 World Cup final.
Schumacher's assault on Patrick Battiston was the most obvious of red card offences, but referee Charles Corver didn't bat an eyelid.
A thrilling extra-time period in this all-time classic took the game to penalties, where the villainous Schumacher saved from Maxime Bossis and Didier Six to break French hearts.
2. Jens Lehmann vs Argentina (2006)
Ah, the infamous 'cheat sheet'.
Jens Lehmann's notes on each of Argentina's penalty takers ahead of Germany's quarter-final shootout in 2006 helped the hosts progress into the last four.
Lehmann saved from Roberto Ayala and Esteban Cambiasso - who supposedly wasn't on the keeper's list - to send Germany through and maintain their perfect World Cup penalty shootout record.
3. Ricardo vs England (2006)
After taking the right royal p*ss out of England at Euro 2004, Portuguese shot-stopper Ricardo opted to haunt the Three Lions two years later in Germany.
He became the first goalkeeper in World Cup history to save three penalties in a single shootout as Frank Lampard, Steven Gerrard and Jamie Carragher were all denied by Portugal's number one.
4. Tim Krul vs Costa Rica (2014)
Tim Krul emerged as the unlikeliest of Dutch heroes in the summer of 2014.
With the Netherlands' quarter-final clash with surprise package Costa Rica destined for penalties, Louis van Gaal opted to replace number one Jasper Cillessen for Krul.
The ploy was a stroke of genius as the towering Krul saved Bryan Ruiz's spot-kick to give his side an early advantage before he inflicted the killer blow by denying Michael Umana.
5. Danijel Subasic vs Denmark (2018)
Subasic joined Ricardo in the record books in Croatia's round of 16 clash against Denmark as he saved three Danish spot-kicks to help Zlatko Dalic's side advance in 2018.
The former Monaco goalkeeper saved Christian Eriksen's opening effort in the shootout before keeping Lasse Schone and Nicolai Jorgensen's attempts out which allowed Ivan Rakitic to sweep home the winning penalty.
6. Dominik Livakovic vs Japan (2022)
Heroics from a Croatian goalkeeper in a World Cup round of 16 penalty shootout? Is history repeating itself?!
Livakovic was undoubtedly aided by some tame Japanese ball striking, but the Dinamo Zagreb keeper still had to guess the right way and keep the efforts out.
He saved three penalties, joining the Ricardo club with Subasic, and ensured Croatia progressed into the quarter-finals.
7. Yassine Bounou vs Spain (2022)
Morocco survived Spain's 'death by passing' approach to seal a goalless draw in their last 16 clash at the 2022 World Cup.
La Roja are historically poor at penalty shootouts and this loss made gave them the worst record of any nation in the competition's history; they've now lost four shootouts and can blame Yassine Bounou for the latest failure.
Pablo Sarabia struck the post before Bono saved tame efforts from Carlos Soler and Sergio Busquets. Achraf Hakimi dinked in Morocco's third to take them into the quarter finals for the first time ever.