WC Countdown: If it comes to a penalty shootout, we know who won’t be shaking with nerves
Reading Time: 4min | Sun. 07.06.26. | 21:30
Germany and Croatia are the absolute masters when it comes to deciding matches through penalties from the spot
Few situations in football generate as much drama as a World Cup penalty shootout. After more than two hours of intense competition, everything can come down to a single strike from twelve yards. One successful kick can immortalize a player, while one mistake can haunt a nation for years. The stadium falls silent, nerves take over, and goalkeepers suddenly become masters of psychology.
Although penalties are often described as a game of chance, World Cup history suggests otherwise. Certain countries repeatedly thrive in shootouts, while others continue to fall short despite possessing some of the world's finest footballers. Success from the spot is rarely accidental. The teams that prevail most often are usually the ones with superior preparation, stronger mental resilience, and complete faith in their routines.
Some nations have turned penalty shootouts into a genuine strength. Time and again, they have demonstrated an ability to stay composed when the stakes could not be higher. Germany and Croatia are the countries that have built a reputation for excelling under football's greatest pressure.
Germany: The Gold Standard of Penalty Shootouts
No team in World Cup history has inspired more fear in a penalty shootout than Germany. For generations, German sides treated penalties not as a burden but as an opportunity. While opponents often felt the weight of the occasion, German players typically approached the moment with remarkable confidence and composure.
Their record speaks for itself. Germany famously prevailed in shootouts against France in 1982, Mexico in 1986, England in 1990, and Argentina in 2006. Throughout those contests, missed penalties were a rarity. A striking fact is that during this period alone, the German national team took 18 penalties from the spot without missing a single one!
What separated Germany from everyone else was their mindset. Their players rarely overcomplicated things. They remained patient, selected their target, and executed with conviction. There were no unnecessary theatrics or last-second changes of plan—just calm, efficient finishing when it mattered most.
One of the most memorable examples came during the 2006 World Cup quarter-final against Argentina. German goalkeeper Jens Lehmann famously carried a list of Argentine penalty tendencies inside his sock. Before each attempt, he glanced at his notes, using detailed preparation to gain an edge. Germany ultimately advanced, and Lehmann's meticulous approach became legendary.
More than anything, Germany developed an aura. By the time a shootout began, many opponents already seemed burdened by the challenge of facing them. That psychological advantage was often as valuable as any save or successful kick.
Croatia: Modern Masters Under Pressure
Croatia may not possess Germany's decades-long legacy from the penalty spot, but few teams have matched their recent success. Across the 2018 and 2022 World Cups, Croatia repeatedly demonstrated an extraordinary ability to survive knockout football through shootouts.
Victories over Denmark, Russia, Japan, and Brazil highlighted a pattern rather than a coincidence. Whenever matches stretched beyond 120 minutes, Croatia seemed completely comfortable with what came next.
Much of that confidence stemmed from experienced leaders such as Luka Modric, Ivan Rakitic, and Marcelo Brozovic, while goalkeepers Danijel Subasic and Dominik Livakovic produced crucial saves at key moments. Croatia's greatest strength, however, has often been their emotional control. They remain measured after both successes and setbacks, refusing to get carried away or lose focus.
Their approach throughout tournaments also plays a major role. Croatia are experts at enduring long, physically demanding matches. By the time penalties arrive, they frequently appear mentally fresher than opponents who have spent enormous energy trying to break them down.
The quarter-final against Brazil in 2022 perfectly illustrated this quality. Despite facing a squad packed with attacking stars and overwhelming expectations, Croatia remained composed throughout the shootout. They trusted their process, handled the pressure more effectively, and once again found a way to advance.
That ability to remain calm when everything is on the line is what separates good penalty teams from truly elite ones.
In the end, penalty shootouts at the World Cup are far more than a test of luck. They reveal which teams have the strongest mentality, the best preparation, and the ability to stay calm when the pressure reaches its peak. While talent and technique matter, history shows that composure is often the deciding factor. Nations like Germany and Croatia prove that success from the spot is not accidental, but the result of discipline, confidence, and belief in the moment when everything is on the line.
WORLD CUP - GROUP STAGE
First round
Thursday, 11.06.
22.00: (1.50) Mexico (4.00) S.Africa (7.25)
Friday, 12. 06.
05.00: (2.70) S.Korea (3.10) Czech R. (2.75)
22.00: (1.85) Canada (3.70) B&H (4.25)
Saturday, 13.06.
04.00: (2.05) USA (3.35) Paraguay (3.80)
22.00: (12.0) Qatar (5.40) Switzerland (1.28)
Sunday, 14.06.
01.00: (1.62) Brazil (3.80) Morocco (5.80)
04.00: (6.80) Haiti (4.45) Scotland (1.47)
07.00: (4.50) Australia (3.50) Turkey (1.83)
20.00: (1.03) Germany (15.0) Curacao (50.0)
02.00: (2.10) Netherlands (3.45) Japan (3.50)
Monday, 15.06.
02.00: (3.60) Ivory Coast (2.90) Ecuador (2.30)
05.00: (2.00) Sweden (3.35) Tunisia (4.00)
19.00: (1.10) Spain (9.50) Cape Verde (27.0)
22.00: (1.70) Belgium (4.00) Egypt (4.75)
Tuesday 16.06.
01.00: (7.50) Saudi Arabia (4.20) Uruguay (1.47)
04.00: (1.95) Iran (3.35) N.Zealand (4.20)
22.00: (1.47) France (4.50) Senegal (6.75)
***odds are subject to change***