This time England are ready. Or they think they are. The football team have used every bit of technology they can lay their hands on to prepare for a penalty shoot out with the Germans and have been practising daily.
David James, the goalkeeper, has studied videos of the five likeliest German penalty takers on an i-Pad and a DVD player. James said, “If it goes to penalties, we are ready. We’re confident and we will do what is needed.”
All 23 members of the England squad have been graded on their penalty-taking ability. Steven Gerrard, the captain, and fellow midfielder Gareth Barry are top with nine out of 10 goals in their most recent spot-kicks for their club and country.
The Germans claim not to have practised penalties even though the “Kaiser” himself, their former captain and coach Franz Beckenbauer, has predicted that is how the game will end.
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He said: “I hope for the fans, for the excitement, a draw — whatever, 1-1, 2-2, overtime, okay — and then penalty kicks, and then ... the German wins! Sorry!”
England, however, have done their homework, time and time again, to avoid adding to their sorry tally of five exits from big tournaments in the past 20 years.
Stuart Pearce, the team’s assistant coach, who endured semi-final knockouts to Germany at the 1990 World Cup and at Euro 96, said: “It hurts and the pain never mellows. These players have no interest in that, but I learnt lessons and I have to make sure they’re passed on.”
Despite famously missing his spot-kick in Turin in 1990, Pearce has been overseeing Operation Penalty to make sure no one fluffs their lines or, rather kicks, today.
Capello has promised a bonus to his players if they win; they can spend tonight with their wives or girlfriends at the hotel. Those already in South Africa include Christine Bleakley, Frank Lampard’s TV presenter girlfriend.
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Many of the 11,000 England fans expected at the match have paid up to £200 for black market tickets.