Its World cup soccer final day so these song lyrics come to mind.
You’ve got to know when to hold them, know when to fold them, know when to walk away
And know when to run. Never count your money when you’re sitting at the table. There’s time enough for counting when the dealings done.
Don Schlitz wrote the song the Gambler with that catchy chorus in August, 1976 when he was 23 years old and it was most famously recorded by American country singer Kenny Rogers two years later. It’s a parable that neatly describes high stake card games and the perils that can befall you.
For me it’s the tune that pops into my head when a Penalty shootout is called for in Soccer. The match would have played out for 90 minutes and both teams are locked level so extra time is called. That 30 minutes fails to produce a winner and so the victory celebrations will be designated to the team that can reach the end of the treacherous path of penalties first.
Many observers consider it a lottery. I disagree. It requires skill and temperment and brings with an ad libbed unpredictable script as the actors decide the conclusion. In every penalty shootout you’ve got the David O’Leary (the person who scores) and the Daniel Timofte (the person with the unsuccessful kick).
The teams huddle in the centre circle all talk of the 120 minutes played out must be forgotten regrets over missed opportunities are of no use now. Volunteers are sought to participate in the gladiatorial battle (I may be over selling it here the point is its dramatic enough without hyperbole) and generally as the kickers are chosen the supporters will be less confident after each one. The managers tells them to block out all the distractions, pick their spot. Meanwhile the opposition goalkeeper is being told to be big, brave and stop the ball from finding a home in the net.
The ref blows the whistle for proceedings to begin. The first penalty taker begins the walk to Hades while both goalkeepers know hero status can be made with a saving dive.
The walk will age the kicker while those waiting their turn will have a knot in their stomach normally reserved for a dentist’s waiting room. The crowd is in full voice but the players could hear a pin drop. The tension has deafened the surroundings.
The goalkeeper goes the wrong way. The goal is gotten and the kicker jumps in the air raises a pumped fist and half the crowd roars its approval. The other half clears their throat. They are next in the queue.
The other team get off the mark with a venomous shot which made the net shake vigoursly.Penalty takers two and three from both sides have no problems. The goalkeepers may aswell have been at home with their feet up as their efforts were in vain.
Kicks four and we start seeing unaccustomed penalty takers but player one uses power and the ball speeds towards the netting. The fourth kicker from the opposition decides to place it and it hits the goals Stanton. The goalkeeper had no chance.
Both sides have realistic ambitions of winning now. The fifth player now must walk the tightrope between winning and losing as they make their way from the half way line to the penalty spot. The player from the first team up leaves the centre circle to pats on the back from his team mates. Each footstep weighs heavily on the ground as the stride is scrutinised by the crowd. The opposition goalkeeper has the ball and will delay handing it over. Then a staring match begins….each side looking for a psychological edge. ’You’ve got to know when to hold them and know when to fold them’
The shot was weak but luck was in as it squirted behind the dive of the goalkeeper and the initative has been gained. The next side must score or they lose.
Player number five from team two knows that a goal will bring the game to sudden death a miss or a save will hand victory to their opponents.
The player is a defender and has never kicked a penalty before. Brave enough to volunteer but unsure of how the next two minutes would play out. The goalkeeper is thinking of the Christy moore song about saint Brendan with the line is it right or left after gilbralter as they decide whether to dive to their side or stay standing.
For the kicker the walk to their destiny now begins.
In conclusion. The Penalty shootout is a gladiatorial battle that should be savoured and not revered. Celebrated and not dismissed and enjoyed and not bemoaned.
We’ve had penalty drama already in this world cup -a winning paneka penalty from a defender..Neymar Brazils best penalty taker being chosen as fifth penalty taker but never getting the opportunity and the Netherlands and Argentina being ill-tempered as they stood in the centre circle.
And so maybe it will be today when kicker number five of France and Argentina will have the world cup fate in their hands or at their foot rather and well the outcome is always different game on game. So ‘The answer my friend is blowing in the wind’
