The demons of the past have defeated "DiePresse.com

Moscow / Vienna. Gareth Southgate is a burned child. In 1996, during penalties in the semifinals of the European Championship against Germany, he was the sixth contactor of the English. Southgate shot, Andreas Köpke stopped – and England lost. He had hit him "unannounced" when the boss of the team, Terry Venables, asked him to play eleven yards. Southgate, he confessed later, was overwhelmed by the situation.

The history of the English national football team, closely linked to penalties on goal. In all these years, even a national psychosis has become. England lost six out of seven decisions in the finals: 1990 and 1996 against Germany, 1998 against Argentina, 2004 and 2006 against Portugal and in 2012 against Italy. Only in 1996, the Three Lions had won the quarterfinals against Spain, but the joy has given way to disappointing knockouts against the eventual champion of Europe Germany.

Gareth Southgate wanted to spare his players at the World Cup in Russia, as shame avoid a possible defeat after a penalty shot. As a result, the 47-year-old man from Watford, a city in northwestern London, has been offensively confronting the trauma of an entire nation, preparing his team for months on emergencies. Since March, he has played such a special role in a football training scenario that he has simulated the exceptional mental situation by repeatedly letting his players go far from the midline at the penalty point .

All is only a matter of technology

"We have conducted various studies and exercises," says the national player 57 times. "We have to make sure that we control the action, that it is calm and that there is not too much voice in the minds of the players." The penalties, says Southgate, have nothing to do with luck: "It's a technique under pressure" Since May, the list of five fencers and that of the five substitutes has been fixed, but even the English Boulevard did not manage to get them in advance.

Also, Southgate joined in overtime Marcus Rashford, Manchester United's first 20-year-old is badured. Like Kieran Trippier. "We incurred an extra penalty after so many training sessions while we were all tired.That was worth it." The success of England is also amazing because only Harry Kane and Jamie Vardy (who have not competed) are regulars penalties in their clubs. "But we had complete faith until the end," said Eric Dier, who converted the last penalty and confessed: "J & # 39; I was nervous, I have never been in such a situation. I am grateful that I have met, a great moment. "

Jokes about statistics

The demons of the past, they are now, the English hope, conquered forever." This has been terrible for us over the years ", admitted Kane, who now holds six games in the tournament and is heading towards the top scorer.The devastating statistics did not paralyze the English team, quite the contrary. "We were relaxed because we were joking about it. subject previously, "said Southgate, also relying on the 1.85-meter Jordan Pickford man in the goal.He later said," I do not care if I'm not the greatest goalkeeper in the world, I have power and agility. "

But Pickford's power and agility would not have been helpful if the Colombian Mateus Uribe Sagittarius no only hit the crossbar.,

("The Press", print edition, 05.07.2018)