5 football legends who missed penalty kicks at the World Cup
The World Cup is the most followed sporting extravaganza in the entire world. The galaxy of stars descend to represent their nation, and they strive to win the trophy. Goal scoring becomes a favorite vocation of all the players.
Penalty kicks are said to be the easiest mode of scoring a goal. Most of the time, they get converted to goals. Sometimes, players miss the chance due to pressure or miscalculation.
When football players miss penalties in a World Cup match, then it gets reported in the media outlets quite harshly. The fans and audiences boo their players causing great misery to the team.
Here are five such players who missed penalty kicks at the World Cup.
#5. Steven Gerrard, England vs Portugal, 2006 World Cup
England had a dismal record in World Cup penalty shoot-outs (played 3, lost 3). But when Steven Gerrard expressed the desire to take the penalty against Portugal in a quarter-final match in 2006 as it went down to penalties, no one thought he would miss.
Gerrard was the magnetic Liverpool midfielder, who had scored penalties easily in the FA Cup final and the Champions League final, a year ago.
He crumbled under pressure and missed the penalty. Portugal won 3-1 and moved to the semi-finals.
#4. Hugo Sanchez, Mexico vs Paraguay 1986 World Cup
Hugo Sanchez was considered one of the best strikers of all time. He was a legend at the Spanish club, Real Madrid and Mexico's greatest player undoubtedly.
Sanchez was out-thought by the Paraguay goalkeeper, Roberto Fernandez when he decided to take a penalty. His attempt was blocked by Fernandez and Mexico literally went into shock. The match was tied at 1-1.
The English-language Mexico City News ran the headline 'Hugo, how could you?'