SHOOTING STORIES – During the Euro 2021 finals, Europe 1 invites you to take a look back at five legendary penalty shootouts. The very first, in 1976, saw the birth of a historic shooting technique: the famous Panenka.
After years where the elimination matches without a winner were played by drawing lots or had to be redisputed, Euro 1976 marks a tournament in the history of competition: for the first time, it will be played on penalties … but also see the birth of a new and rather daring way of taking penalties. Europe 1 tells you the end of an unforgettable final in two respects.
A first in international competition
Eight years after a euro in which the final between Italy and Yugoslavia had been replayed for lack of a winner, the one between Czechoslovakia and the FRG saw history repeat itself, on June 20, 1976: at the end of regulation time and of overtime, the two teams were unable to decide (2-2). Except that a few hours before the meeting, the presidents of the two federations and UEFA agreed not to opt for a new match in this case.
For the first time in the history of an international competition, a final will therefore be disputed on penalties – the rule was theoretically adopted in the World Cup in 1974, but the case did not arise until -the.
Six momentum steps and a smooth strike
Seven shooters convert the try, then Germany is the first to strike above. It was then that the Czechoslovakian Antonin Panenka approached the launch pad. He takes six steps of momentum to make believe in a power strike, sees the goalkeeper anticipate and go to his left. He then only has to prick the ball gently behind the line.
A soft shot, in the middle of the goal, but that the goalkeeper cannot counter. Europe has just discovered the “Panenka”, which will be taken up by many footballers, including a certain Zinedine Zidane in the 2006 World Cup final.
—
