Why The Best Players in The World Refuse to take Penalties

Four players refused to take it. One walked up anyway. This is what a penalty shootout really does to the people taking them, the emotion, the psychology, and the data that explains almost nothing about any single kick. From Germany's first-ever World Cup shootout loss to the Carabao Cup final that broke me, a look at why the penalty spot is the most honest, and cruellest, place in football. Featuring the research of Geir Jordet on avoidance and pressure, Daniel Kahneman's loss aversion, and why the "first-kick advantage" turned out to be a myth. Chapters: Sources and further reading: Geir Jordet, Pressure (2024); Kahneman & Tversky, prospect theory. b/ is a channel about football through money, culture, and marketing, not tactics. Subscribe for more