Kevin Palmer: How England’s new generation shed the fears of their penalty-taking predecessors
England’s spot kick kings shine when the ultimate pressure was applied
DUSSELDORF, GERMANY - JULY 06: Players of England celebrates following the team's victory in the penalty shoot out after Trent Alexander-Arnold of England (not pictured) scores the team's fifth and winning penalty in the penalty shoot out during the UEFA EURO 2024 quarter-final match between England and Switzerland at Düsseldorf Arena on July 06, 2024 in Dusseldorf, Germany. (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images)
The mere mention of a penalty shoot-out used to send shivers of fear down the spine of England footballers, yet the latest generation confirmed their nation’s scars are not nationally hereditary.
As Cole Palmer, Jude Bellingham, Bukayo Saka, Ivan Toney and, finally, Trent Alexander Arnold stepped into the line of fire for England’s latest penalty shoot-out in the Euro 2024 quarter-final against Switzerland, the negativity and pessimism of the former fall guys was nowhere to seen.
