Risk v reward: what is the best strategy for football penalty kicks?

Australia’s win over France in the Women’s World Cup featured the longest penalty shootout in World Cup history – 20 spot kicks were taken, six more than the record of 14 set just a week earlier when Sweden beat the USA, and eight more than the men’s tournament record of 12.

Even outside penalty shootouts, a single spot kick can easily decide the outcome of a game at a World Cup, making any advantage in taking a penalty crucial. So what can we learn about the best strategy for penalty kicks from statistics and research?

I took a deep dive into the sports science research to figure out the best approach for power vs precision, run ups, where to aim, and which way goalkeepers usually jump.

Check it out on the Guardian here.