The longest penalty shootouts in World Cup history
Penalty shootouts are synonymous with tournament football and the World Cup has played host to many thrills and spills from 12 yards since its 1930 inception.
They are the cruellest way for any side to taste defeat and thus exit the competition, but they are a part and parcel of the sport. Further heartbreak is expected in 2022 as we prepare for the knockout stages of the Qatari World Cup.
Very few World Cup shootouts are long-lasting, however. Just two in the history of the tournament have ever lasted 14 spot-kicks.
Fancy taking a trip down memory lane? Here's a recollection of the two longest penalty shootouts in World Cup history.
West Germany 3 (5) - (4) 3 France - 1982
The 1982 World Cup semi-final between West Germany and France is entrenched in infamy.
A thrilling back-and-forth contest that undoubtedly boasted one of the most enthralling extra-time periods in World Cup history was overshadowed by Harald Schumacher's assault on Patrick Battison in the second half that remarkably failed to draw a red card from the pocket of Charles Corver.
Battison lost three teeth and was rendered comatose as a result, with Schumacher eventually playing a pivotal role in West Germany's success.
The entire footballing world willed the romantic but inexperienced French side to win in the shootout but it was the efficient and recently disgraced Germans who prevailed despite falling behind 3-1 in extra time.
Goals from substitute Karl-Heinz Rummenigge and Klaus Fischer took this all-time World Cup classic to penalties where Schumacher saved Didier Six and Maxime Bossis' spot kicks to help West Germany into the final.
Sweden 2 (5) - (4) 2 Romania - 1994
Romania's 'Golden Generation' emerged as the neutral's favourite in 1994 as the magic left boot of Gheorghe Hagi spearheaded their best-ever World Cup finish. After stunning Argentina 3-2 in the round of 16, Romania took on Sweden for a place in the semi-finals.
The contest took some time to ignite, but supporters were treated to a spectacle when it did. Tomas Brolin gave Sweden the lead after 78 minutes before Florin Rǎducioiu equalised with just a couple of minutes remaining.
Rǎducioiu's heroics continued in extra-time as he fired home his second just before Stefan Schwarz received his second yellow card to leave the trailing Swedes at a man disadvantage. Sweden failed to fold, however, and they restored parity five minutes from time thanks to a Kennet Andersson header.
Penalties beckoned and, once again, it was Romania who seemed destined to progress after Stig Mild missed Sweden's first spot kick. Romania were perfect up until their fourth taker, Daniel Petrescu, missed. A young Henrik Larsson converted Sweden's first penalty of sudden death before Miodrag Belodedici had his effort saved by Thomas Ravelli.
Sweden would fall to a late Romario goal in the semi-finals, while Romania have since failed to reach the heights of their memorable campaign in the States.
Who has the best record in World Cup penalty shootouts?
Two nations have won four World Cup penalty shootouts:
- 4 - Germany (1982, 1986, 1990, 2006)
- 4 - Argentina (1990, 1990, 1998, 2014)
Argentina embarked on a miraculous penalty shootout run in 1990 as they advanced through to the final off the back of back-to-back shootout victories. Diego Maradona's side beat Yugoslavia and Italy before being beaten by West Germany 1-0 - courtesy of an Andreas Brehme penalty, ironically.
They failed to make the most of their shootout victory over England in 1998 as a Dennis Bergkamp-inspired Holland beat Argentina in the quarter-finals. In 2014, they got one over the Dutch on penalties to advance into the final before those pesky Germans struck again.
Speaking of, Germany are regarded as the masters from 12 yards. They've never lost a World Cup penalty shootout. However, just once (1990) have they gone on to win the tournament after winning a shootout in the knockout stages. They were beaten finalists in 1982 and 1986, and defeated in the semi-finals in 2006.
Who has the worst record in World Cup penalty shootouts?
Three major European nations have been beaten in three World Cup penalty shootouts:
- 3 - England (1990, 1998, 2006)
- 3 - Italy (1990, 1994, 1998)
- 3 - Spain (1986, 2002, 2018)
England's torrid relationship with penalty shootous plagued the Three Lions either side of the Millennium. While each defeat was heartbreaking in its own right, the semi-final exit at the hands of West Germany at Italia '90 undoubtedly goes down as the biggest 'What If' in England's World Cup history as a beatable Argentina awaited in the final.
In 2018, Gareth Southgate's side overcame the demons of yesteryear to win their first-ever World Cup shootout in the round of 16 against Colombia.
Italy's wretched record in shootouts peaked in 1994 as Roberto Baggio blazed over the Azzurri's fifth penalty to hand Brazil their fourth World Cup. That defeat was the second of three consecutive World Cup penalty shootout eliminations for the Italians.
Spain's woes have each been separated by 16 years, which means supporters have until 2034 before they endure more shootout heartbreak. They've twice been beaten on penalties by the host nation (South Korea 2002, Russia 2018).