World Cup

A FOOTBALL psychology expert claims to have discovered why Harry Kane buried his first penalty against France – but skied the second one over. Professor Geir Jordet from the Norwegian School of Sport Sciences has offered his unique insight as to why Kane missed his second spot kick.
Geir Jordet has revealed the crucial reason behind Harry Kane’s contrasting penalty successCredit: Getty
Kane was alone when he stepped up to take his second penaltyCredit: Getty
And France players swarmed around him following the missCredit: Getty
And it has all to do with the “support” Kane got from his team-mates ahead of both spot kicks.
Posting his hypothesis in a fascinating thread on Twitter, Jordet explained the protection the record Three Lions scorer received from Liverpool skipper Jordan Henderson was pivotal in the outcome of the penalties.
He explained: “One of England’s players is world-leading in supporting team-mate penalty takers.
“Jordan Henderson has successfully protected Liverpool’s penalty takers for years, making sure opponents don’t get access to play mind games in those last crucial seconds leading up to the kick.
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“For Kane’s first penalty vs France, Henderson did what he does best. First, he called for and grabbed the ball early.
“Then handed it over to Kane while essentially escorting him to the penalty area, making sure no French players could get access to Kane for a ‘last word’.
“For the 2nd penalty, Henderson had literally just been substituted off and could not assume his normal supportive role.
“For the first 30 sec after the VAR decision, Harry Kane was alone, with only France players around. Not necessarily a problem, but it leaves him vulnerable.
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Jordan Henderson was with Kane for his first penaltyCredit: Twitter/@GeirJordet
But Kane was left alone ahead of his second kickCredit: Twitter/@GeirJordet
“Kane’s team-mates saw this & stepped up. First Mason Mount, then Jude Bellingham (after Stones pointed out a need). Bellingham ended up escorting Giroud out of the penalty area.
“All good, but was this too reactive & too late? And did it even add noise rather than take it away?
“Kane missed the penalty & England’s hope vanished. Interesting that the first players to emerge around Harry Kane after the miss were all French.
“Almost the entire French team swarmed around Lloris (and Kane) in joy and excitement, with not a single England player in sight.”
He went on to praise 19-year-old Bellingham, who was the first to console Kane after his miss.
After the game, Henderson stayed alongside Kane, with Jordet concluding: “Being a team-mate is about being there for the ones who need you the most.”
Jordet has previously spoken to SunSport regarding penalty psychology.
Following Chelsea’s club World Cup victory over Palmeiras – which saw Kai Havertz score a late penalty – he said Cesar Azpilicueta acting as a human shield was important in allowing Havertz to convert his spot kick.
He said: “With VAR, the psychology of penalty kicks has become incredibly important.
“The best teams in 2022 are the ones who play the psychological game better than others.”
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James Maddison and Emiliano Martinez have previously been great examples when it comes to psyching out their opponents before penalty kicks.
Martinez in particular seems to have this down to a tee, and has produced some massive penalty saves in recent years including a pair of saves for Argentina in their shootout victory over the Netherlands at the World Cup. More

JAMIE CARRAGHER is adamant that Gareth Southgate should not be replaced with a foreign manager.The Football Association are desperate for Southgate to stay on as England boss.
Thomas Tuchel wants to become England’s next manager if Gareth Southgate leavesCredit: AFP
Jamie Carragher insists that the job should always go to an EnglishmanCredit: PA
That’s despite Saturday’s 2-1 World Cup quarter-final defeat to France, which resulted in the world champions facing Morocco next tonight in the semis.
The Three Lions boss has already stated that he plans to take his time to decide about his future.
His current contract runs until the end of 2024, with the European Championship in Germany barely 18 months away.
If Southgate did choose to quit, it is understood the FA would prefer to appoint a candidate from the British Isles.
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However, as Sun Sport exclusively revealed, Thomas Tuchel wants the job if it becomes available.
The former Chelsea chief is back in Germany after being sacked by the Blues in September.
And Argentine ex-Spurs chief Mauricio Pochettino is high on the potential replacement list according to the bookies.
Meanwhile, Englishmen Graham Potter, who replaced Tuchel at Chelsea, Newcastle manager Eddie Howe and Leicester’s Northern Irish chief Brendan Rodgers would also likely be in the frame.
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However, Liverpool legend Carragher insists that the job should only be available to those born in England.
He tweeted: “The England manager should always be English!”
Discussing his future after the French defeat, Southgate admitted that he was stung by a barrage of criticism after June’s humiliating 4-0 Molineux defeat to Hungary, when he was heavily booed by fans, as he considers his future.
Southgate said: “I’ve found large parts of the last 18 months difficult. For everything that I’ve loved about the last few weeks, I still look at how things have been for 18 months.
“What’s been said and what’s been written, the night at Wolves.
“There are lots of things in my head that’s really conflicted at the moment.
“So what I want to make sure, if it’s the right thing to stay, is that I’ve definitely got the energy to do that.
“I don’t want to be four or five months down the line thinking I’ve made the wrong call.
“It’s too important for everybody to get that wrong.”
Gareth Southgate will take some time to assess his futureCredit: AP More

THOMAS TUCHEL is keen to replace Gareth Southgate as England manager if the current boss walks away.Southgate will consider his future as Three Lions gaffer following the quarter-final World Cup exit.
Thomas Tuchel will surely keep Raheem Sterling in the England teamCredit: EPA

He admitted he needs time to reflect on the tournament and wants to make the right decision after that review.
The FA are desperate for Southgate to stay on but, as revealed by SunSport, Tuchel would throw his name in the hat if the position became available.
The former Chelsea boss is currently back home in Germany following his Blues sacking in September.
But what would the England team look like if Tuchel was in charge?
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Well, the news would come as a major boost for a whole host of the Chelsea squad.
Mason Mount and Raheem Sterling started England’s 6-2 win over Iran and the 0-0 draw with USA.
Mount came on against Senegal while they were both subbed on against France.
Should Tuchel come in, he would no doubt keep the pair in the side – likely playing in attack either side of Harry Kane.
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Mount was a regular throughout Tuchel’s Chelsea tenure while he signed Sterling for £47.5million this summer.
Tuchel has always enjoyed a back three with wing-backs.
He may opt for a shake-up in goal with Aaron Ramsdale replacing Jordan Pickford as the long-term No1.
In front of him could be a back three with Chelsea academy graduate Trevoh Chalobah and John Stones either side of Harry Maguire – who was a shock transfer target for the Blues in August.
At wing-back, £50m Chelsea man Ben Chilwell would surely get the nod over Luke Shaw with Reece James arguably the best right wing-back in world football and thrived under Tuchel there.
James and Chilwell were on course to go to Qatar before injury ruled the pair out.
In midfield, Declan Rice and Jude Bellingham may well be safe – with Ruben Loftus-Cheek an outside alternative.
Tuchel tried to sign Rice from West Ham at Chelsea as one of the best holding midfielders in the country while Bellingham is pretty much a certain starter as an exciting young talent wanted by many of the world’s biggest clubs.
However, it could be bad news for Conor Gallagher, Tammy Abraham and Fikayo Tomori.
Gallagher was a surprise inclusion in Southgate’s 26-man squad for Qatar – but did not get a minute of action.
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However, the midfielder struggled to make his mark under Tuchel and was regularly overlooked by the German boss at Stamford Bridge.
Similarly, Tomori and Abraham were sold under Tuchel’s management after failing to convince him of being long-term solutions.
Jude Bellingham and Mason Mount would also stay inCredit: Getty
Reece James and Ben Chilwell could be linking up for the Three Lions againCredit: Reuters More

SACKED boss Luis Enrique has said there is one flop he wish he never picked as he spilled the beans on Spain’s car crash World Cup. The 52-year-old did not have his contract renewed after La Furia Roja lost on penalties to Morocco at the last-16.
Luis Enrique is no longer Spain manager after taking over in 2019Credit: Getty
He has been replaced by Spain’s U21 boss Luis de la Fuente.
After an incredible 7-0 win over Costa Rica to kick off their campaign, Spain’s World Cup unravelled and they failed to win any of their next three.
Enrique revealed to Spanish internet personality Ibai Llanos during a Twitch interview that there was one player who let him down.
He said: “One player, but I won’t say the name. One player didn’t end up being what I thought and I would have changed him for another player.”
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But the former Barcelona manager had praise for PSG’s Pablo Sarabia and admitted he should have played him more.
The 30-year-old only played five minutes at the end of Spain’s loss to Morocco.
Enrique added: “I think Pablo Sarabia deserved more than the five minutes I gave him. Right now I would have even made him the starter.
“I’m not one of those who beats himself up, surely we would have lost the same, but in terms of justice he deserved it.”
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The boss admitted Spain’s campaign “went to hell” but defended the decisions he took.
He said: “In 90 minutes, everything went to hell. It is clear that we did not play a good game against Morocco.
“I saw it positively. Right now I am calm and satisfied with what we have done. We generated enthusiasm and desire to see the national team.
“We have seen it. Many young people and children came to see us at the hotel. We could do better, I am aware, but I tried to take the best players and those who embodied my ideas.”
After their victory over Spain, Morocco now face a huge semi-final against world champions France tomorrow.
Meanwhile Spain will look forward to Euro 2024 as they bid to bounce back from a series of disappointing tournaments. More