Originally Posted by Greenhill

I was invited explain the penalty shoot-out and sudden-death phases of the knock-out matches the other day.

Easiest way to do this, I thought, was to open up youtube and search for "penalty shootout" (which I did and promptly clicked on the first link). My mistake, while trying to keep a brave face and explain the rules I had to sit there and watch England lose to Portugal again

Statistically speaking, it's should be our turn to win on penalties. I hear Defoe & company have been practising penalty kicks.

I'm hoping they've also been practising that other thing they have to do well too, er, what's it called, oh, that's it... "passing".

Originally Posted by Alan2005

Alan2005 Uruguay 1 KoreaRepublic 0
Alan2005 USA 5 Ghana 3 PENS

Originally Posted by Lord Vader

How is it possible for a team to win by more than one goal on penalties? For example, if the USA and Ghana are tied at 3 after extra time and the US wins the penalty kicks, shouldn't the USA get credited with a 4-3 win regardless of what the difference in the number of successful kicks is?

Originally Posted by Alan2005

They each get 5 penalty kicks, but if one gets an extra kick I'm not sure if that is counted.

e.g.
USA 3 - Ghana 3
USA scores
USA 4 - Ghana 3
Ghana misses
USA 4 - Ghana 3
USA scores
USA 5 - Ghana 3

Game over - Ghana's 5th kick isn't taken as it can't affect the result.

Would that be 5-3 or 4-3 to the US?

Originally Posted by Lord Vader

yeah I get how they could be ahead by more than 1 during the penalty kick phase, but as far as an official score goes, wouldn't the winner of the penalty kicks just be credited with one goal?

USA 4 Ghana 3 (5-3 PENS), or am I missing something?

Originally Posted by Alan2005

Ok, got you. The penalty score is what it is - it doesn't count as a goal that's added (I don't think). I'm assuming that Greenhill means the penalty score in his rules.

Originally Posted by JamesM

This is what I didn't understand.

Because you have put a penalty score down this means you have forecasted a drawer. But what points will you get because the game could finish 0-0, 1-1, 2-2 etc......so I am guessing you get 1 point whatever way it finishes.

You then only press on and get big points if the penalty score is accuarate but you get extra points if you predict the penalty winner?

Originally Posted by Kiwilass

I'm lost

Originally Posted by The4BellsLondon

Me too - I'll get our coats!

Originally Posted by Alan2005

Bloody hell, this isn't rocket science people Either way, just make your predictions and let Greenhills spreadsheet do the actual adding up.