Thread by @GeirJordet

A subtle England penalty shootout innovation (since 2021) is their deliberate, structured & functional use of social psychology.

Here, Saka is picked up by John Stones after his penalty, to swiftly welcome him back in the team.

What did England do and why did they do it?
1/7

Against the Swiss, each English penalty taker had a buddy assigned, who would leave the mid circle and greet the penalty taker back into the group after each kick.

This is consistent with a new trend that teams now not only assign penalty takers, but also assign protectors.
2/7

I assume this buddy would also support their assigned penalty taker if he were to fail.

This was was painfully lacking in 2021, when Rashford walked 50 m alone after his missed shot, while facing a wall of teammates in an interlocked formation as if communicating US vs YOU.
3/7

Now, as opposed to most other teams in the world, England, refreshingly, do NOT interlock their arms in the mid circle.

This looser formation enables flexibility to offer each other functional social support, which is more important than APPEARING to be supportive.
4/7

In the huddle preceding the last shootout, Southgate gathered only the 11 players eligible for penalties (and key staff) - keeping everyone else (including substitutes) out.

Fewer people gave Southgate a better overview to effectively assign both penalty takers & buddies.
5/7

As in 2021, Pickford handed the ball over to English penalty takers, but with a twist - he then re-entered the penalty area together with his teammate, staring down the GK, to create a 2v1 situation against him.

Maybe too effective?
The referee disallowed it from then.
6/7

Don't get caught in the narrative that a penalty shootout is only about individual skill.

It's an emotional & volatile event where structured social support to help each other buffer stress may make a difference.

See much more on this in chapter 4 in my new book: Pressure.
7/7