After Selecao stars Elano, Thiago Silva, Andre Santos and Fred all missed from 12 yards at the Copa America, Goal.com remembers other spot-kick disasters.
What a competition the 2011 Copa America has been so far. After enduring a severe goal drought at the beginning, we then witnessed a flurry of matches where the ball had to be plucked from the net on numerous occasions, and the watching world has now been stunned by a set of quarter-finals where every favourite was dumped out of the competition.
Peru ousted Radamel Falcao's Colombia, hosts Argentina were stifled and subsequently sent packing by Uruguay, while Barcelona target and Chile star Alexis Sanchez could do nothing to stop Venezuela.
However, the worst culprits of all were Brazil, who made history in La Plata by becoming the only side ever in the Copa America to fail to convert a single penalty in a shoot-out, squandering four attempts as they crashed out against Paraguay.
So, to pay homage to the quartet of Samba stars who couldn't net from 12 yards, Goal.com has put together a list of spot-kick shockers from the past.
However, the worst culprits of all were Brazil, who made history in La Plata by becoming the only side ever in the Copa America to fail to convert a single penalty in a shoot-out, squandering four attempts as they crashed out against Paraguay.
So, to pay homage to the quartet of Samba stars who couldn't net from 12 yards, Goal.com has put together a list of spot-kick shockers from the past.
1986 EUROPEAN CUP FINAL: Steaua Bucharest 0-0 Barcelona (2-0 pens.) Penalties Taken: 8 Penalties Missed: 6 |
The Estadio Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan, home of La Liga giants Sevilla, was the location for one of the most memorable and astounding penalty shootouts of all time: the 1986 European Cup final between Steaua Bucharest and Spanish natives Barcelona.
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Winning the Copa de la Liga in '86, Blaugrana coach Terry Venables looked a cert to pick up his second title of the year, but one heroic custodian would deny the Catalan giants their maiden European Cup.
After 120 minutes of play could not separate the sides, underdogs Steaua became the first – and remain the only – Romanian side to ever emerge victorious in a European Cup final, when goalkeeperHelmuth Duckadam managed to keep out all four Catalan spot-kicks.
The shot-stopper is still affectionately known as 'The hero of Seville' in his home country as a result of his valiant efforts between the sticks.
EURO 2000 SEMI-FINAL: Italy 0-0 Netherlands (3-1 pens.) Penalties Taken: 8 Penalties Missed: 4 |
In 2000, despite sharing the hosting rights with Belgium, the Netherlands had the pleasure of playing all of their European Championship matches on home soil. Spending their time between Ajax and Feyenoord's home grounds during the group stages, the co-hosts easily finished top of their table, overcoming eventual tournament winners France in the process.
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Having thumped Yugoslavia 6-1 in the quarter-final, the Oranje looked almost unstoppable as they headed into the semi's, with free-scoring PatrickKluivert heading up their attack.
They faced a resilient Italy side, but when Gianluca Zambrotta saw red after just 34 minutes, the home crowd would have been forgiven for sensing victory in the air. Their roof-bursting morale, however, would soon plummet back to earth.
They faced a resilient Italy side, but when Gianluca Zambrotta saw red after just 34 minutes, the home crowd would have been forgiven for sensing victory in the air. Their roof-bursting morale, however, would soon plummet back to earth.
The Netherlands went on to win not one, but two penalties in normal time, and Kluivert joined Frank de Boer in failing to convert from the spot, allowing the Italians to hold on for 120 gruelling minutes.
Still reeling from his earlier aberration, De Boer missed again, and set the tone for the shoot-out. Japp Stam blazed over, before Paolo Maldini then missed for the Azzurri, restoring some Dutch hope. Francesco Toldo soon extinguished their dream when he kept out Paul Bosvelt'seffort to take Italy to the final.
2006 WORLD CUP QUARTER-FINAL: Portugal 0-0 England (3-1 pens.) Penalties Taken: 9 Penalties Missed: 5 |
Portugal goalkeeper Ricardo became a legend when he heroically saved a Darius Vassellpenalty without wearing gloves, before scoring from the spot himself to dump England out of Euro 2004.
Two years later at the 2006 World Cup, the Three Lions were given the chance to exact revenge.
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Sven Goran Eriksson's charges found themselves goalless and tied with the Seleccao for a second time in as many years. With Wayne Rooney missing due to referee Horacio Elizondo showing thehitman red for stamping on Ricardo Carvalho in the second-half, set-piece specialist Frank Lampard was given the task of cancelling out Simao's strike which had opened the scoring in the shoot-out.
However, the Chelsea stalwart failed to convert, and paved the road to failure. Hugo Viana, Petit, Steven Gerrard and Jamie Carragher all followed suit; only Owen Hargreaves found the net admidst the chaos.
A conversion by Helder Postiga gave Portugal a 2-1 edge, and Cristiano Ronaldo's controlled strike eventually secured victory for Luis Felipe Scolari's side, crushing English hopes yet again.
1985 FINNISH CUP FINAL: Haka 2-2 HJK Helsinki (2-1 pens.) Penalties Taken: 12 Penalties Missed: 9 |
In 1985, hapless history was made in Scandinavia when Haka's Finnish Cup final against HJK Helsinki ended with the lottery of spot-kicks.
Despite a failure to overcome their opponents in normal and extra-time, Haka fans fancied their chances, as they were armed with Finnish international goalkeeper Olavi 'Olli' Huttunen – a custodian widely regarded as one of the greatest shot-stoppers in the nation's history.
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When HJK striker Jari Rantanen put his kick wide, hopes were high for Haka's support, but a miss, followed by another, and another, then another, soon had both sets of fans wondering when the net would finally bulge.
A total of eight penalties were taken before the scoring commenced, and it was HJK's Juha Dahllundwho gave his side the advantage. It was then equalise or lose for Haka, and who else but Huttunen took to the spot, carrying out his task with ease to keep his club in the contest.
Having just rescued his side, Huttunen then saved the next effort, meaning current Finland coach Mixu Paatelainen's triumphant strike proved to be the winner in a historical final that took 12 penalties to decide – but had a success rate of just 25 per cent from 12 yards.
1994 WORLD CUP FINAL: Brazil 0-0 Italy (3-2 pens.) Penalties Taken: 9 Penalties Missed: 4 |
The 1994 World Cup showdown between Brazil and Italy earns its place due the sheer historical magnitude of the event. This was the first-ever World Cup to be decided by penalties – and the relevance of the occasion doesn't end there.
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Determined to lead by example when open play had come to a goalless end, Azzurri skipper Franco Baresistepped up to take the first spot-kick, but the centre-back blasted his shot over the bar and left Italy fans recoiling in despair. There was quick respite, though, as Gianluca Pagliuca kept out Marcio Santos' ferocious low drive.
Italian morale was soon restored as Demetrio Albertini opened the scoring, but it became inevitable than a miss was in the offing as the sides exchanged successful efforts.
Daniele Massaro was unsuccessful with Italy's fourth attempt, meaning Selecao captain Dunga's conversion put enormous pressure on Roberto Baggio. If the Azzurri had to pick one person to keep them in the game, they would have bet on the man with the ponytail, who had almost single-handedly guided them to the final.
But it was not to be for the legendary striker, whose shot cleared the crossbar and gifted Brazil their fourth World Cup title - a memory far sweeter than this year's Copa America embarrassment.
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