By Mike McGrath, PA Sport
Last updated June 7 2006
Taking a penalty kick at the World Cup can lead to even the top performers buckling under pressure.
Here are a few of the worst World Cup penalty misses:
Roberto Baggio
The divine ponytail's miss deserves another mention. Baggio is one of the top performers in World Cup history, yet he will also be remembered for his penalty miss for Italy in the 1994 final against Brazil. The Azzurri would not have been in the final but for the deeds of Baggio, who scored five goals in the knock-out rounds before a goalless final. "I've never run away from my responsibilities," Baggio has said since. "Only those who have the courage to take a penalty miss them."
Chris Waddle
England were within touching distance of the final in 1990, taking West Germany to penalties in Turin but losing 4-3 in the shoot-out. Stuart Pearce had already seen a spot-kick saved by Bodo Illgner before Waddle stepped up and cleared the crossbar by some distance with his effort. "There were two ways to react; basically you can do a Lord Lucan and disappear or stick your chest out and prove to everybody you're a good footballer," said Waddle, who chose the latter.
David Batty
After Michael Owen had scored a spectacular goal and David Beckham had been sent off, England's second-round clash against Argentina in 1998 went to penalties. Familiar theme? Paul Ince had already missed a kick before Batty had his effort saved by Carlos Roa, with Kevin Keegan, working as a commentator, famously predicting the midfielder would score. England went out.
Maxime Bossis
Bossis saw his penalty parried by Harald 'Toni' Schumacher in the World Cup's first shoot-out, in Spain 1982. That itself does not tell the full story as Schumacher was lucky to be on the pitch, rushing out of his goal during the semi-final in Seville and and flattening Patrick Battiston by jumping into him hip first. Not only did Schumacher escape a red card, a free-kick was not awarded either. When the match finished 3-3 after extra-time, Schumacher saved in the shoot-out, yet he remained the villain rather than Bossis.
Ian Harte
The Republic of Ireland edged into the knock-out stages of the 2002 tournament thanks to a win and two draws, and they were a penalty kick away from continuing their unlikely progression by knocking out Spain. Harte had his spot-kick saved in normal time by Iker Casillas just after the hour mark in Suwon, Korea, and Kevin Kilbane then fluffed the rebound. After forcing the match into extra-time, Kilbane, Matt Holland and David Connolly missed in the shoot-out as Spain progressed.
And we can’t go without mentioning.. Diana Ross
America were the hosts in 1994 and prepared an intricate opening ceremony for the world's greatest 'soccer' tournament. It involved diva Diana Ross performing to the crowds and attempting to kick a penalty past a goalkeeper who had already dived out of the way. The veteran soul singer took aim but missed the target, although that did not stop pre-planned special effects separating the goal as the ball limped embarrassingly wide.
