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Kevin Kilbane on coping with a penalty miss - and Southgate's 'crazy' strategy

Kevin Kilbane says he feels for the England players who missed penalties in the Euro 2020 final, ...



Soccer

Kevin Kilbane on coping with a penalty miss - and Southgate's 'crazy' strategy


Kevin Kilbane says he feels for the England players who missed penalties in the Euro 2020 final, and questioned Gareth Southgate's penalty strategy.

Kilbane had a penalty saved against Spain at the 2002 World Cup, and spoke of how intensely personal it feels.

"In the immediate aftermath, the first 24 to 48 hours, you want to go and lock yourself away in a cave. You want to get away from anyone and don't want to be near anyone.

"I didn't want to be part of the homecoming to Dublin when we got back from Korea, I honestly just wanted to get away from things.

"I carried that with me for quite a long time, I was at Sunderland at the time and it took until pre-season training. Even then I wasn't quite right, but you just have to get on with it. Once you start to play, it's alright but there is always someone to remind you of it.

"It's something I've carried with me for 20 years now so it's not easy. Those lads, I feel for them - particularly Saka, he's 19 years of age!

"To give him fifth penalty at 19 years of age, I just find that bizarre. If he's comfortable taking a penalty, give him the second or the first. That responsibility, knowing full well is at stake around that penalty, I just find that crazy."

'Crazy' Southgate

Kilbane believes that the pressure should really have been on Italy but for some 'crazy' decisions from Southgate.

"Maybe he overthought it? He knows full well that you can't replicate it, you can practice your technique and know what you're going to do. But if you hit it an inch off, it gets missed.

"If you look at the penalties last night, some scored and some missed - Jorginho took his penalty the same way. We were lauding him in the semi-final for what he did.

"Italy were the first side to win back-to-back penalties at a Euros, I don't think any sides have done that like that before.

"You can see why Italy were feeling it a little bit because they're easily read as they'd done the same in the previous game. So for Italy to win, it was actually quite incredible.

"I just find it crazy that for all the planning that you've said wen into the tournament, for all you've read about Southgate being the most prepared manager in world football, and then you put a 19 year old on the last penalty?

"I mean, hanging someone out to dry - it's just crazy."

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