As Switzerland’s Manuel Akanji stepped up to take the first penalty of the quarter-final shootout against England, he looked like a nervous wreck.
Jordan Pickford took his time and gingerly made his way to his goal. He knew how important the first kick was and wanted to do everything in his power to delay it being taken for as long as possible, forcing Akanji to think about his attempt just a little while longer.
Pickford attempted one last distraction technique: walking towards Akanji in a last-ditch effort to intimidate the Swiss defender.
Referee Daniele Orsato had already aggressively gestured for Pickford to get in his goal several times and he quickly intervened.
By that point, almost a minute had elapsed since Cole Palmer had successfully converted England’s first penalty.
It turned out Akanji had good reason to be nervous. Pickford already knew where Akanji’s spot kick was going before he hit the ball.
This is the art of the penalty shootout; an art that could yet decide another major championship final today.
Read more on Pickford’s cheat sheet from Matt Pyzdrowski below.
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