Up in the stands of the Allianz Arena in Munich for the UEFA Champions League final was one of four players in the world who have scored in two World Cup Finals, and a current Director of Bayern Munich FC – and key part of that incredible era in the '70s in Germany football. To reflect his place in history perhaps, Paul Breitner was UEFA'S Official Ambassador for the final in his adopted home town of Munich. Ironically his two goals in the 1974 and 1982 finals were penalties, even though the second time Italy won the final 3-1. However in the previous round Breitner did win the penalty shootout in Seville, when Germany knocked out France in the semi-final.
Ironic as well. Given that for the first time a German team has lost a penalty shootout which goes against their normal efficacy from the spot. Albeit a Dutchman missed the penalty in regulation against Chelsea it was the talented German international Bastian Schweinsteiger who missed – who also happens to come from the same city as Breitner, Kolbermoor.
Having been the hero in the Santiago Bernabeu in the semi-final second leg playing Real Madrid, it was unfortunate that Basti – his nickname - missed in front of home fans at such a vital game for Bayern. But then that is sport. And that is football and many a great player has recovered from a penalty miss to live another day – once the immediate darkness and despair lifts.. None other than Gareth Southgate who sitting in the ITV Sport studios at the Allianz must have relived his experience at the EURO 1996 semi- final against – Germany – at Wembley missing the sixth penalty to see England leave the tournament the nation was hosting.
In the same group of penalty takers though was Stuart Pearce who slammed his shot home and in doing so lifted a weight off his shoulders that had haunted him since July 1990 – when he missed in the world- cup seminal shootout. Again against Germany. Again it was against a German team, that then went on to win the world cup final from Argentina. Today Pearce is well ensconced in the Football Association managing England Under 21. His Turin tears converted to elation at Wembley when he had the chance to amend the error for England fans. Only to see Southgate miss. But then it has to be someone.
For the Republic of Ireland it was Matt Holland when against Spain in the quarterfinals he missed his strike against Iker Casillas and is an active media pundit today.
In France 98, and after a thrilling game which England were unlucky not to win in normal time, the expectation was that the penalty shoot-out would end in tears. So it did, with a penalty from Batty becoming the first player to miss in match that had seen David Beckham dismissed.
At the Rose Bowl in Pasadena in 1994 the tedious clash between footballing giants Brazil and Italy ended all square and went to penalties. With the inform Roberto Baggio of Italy regarded as one of the certainties on that hot summer day to score his chance. But it was not to be with Baggio no doubt calling on his Buddhist beliefs when his strike flew well above the cross bar and seeing Brazil captain Dunga collect the trophy from US Vice President Al Gore.
But in a final he was not alone in that experience as Italian based Frenchman David Trezeguet missed his chance in the final against Italy in Berlin in 2006 - when the teams were deadlocked after 120 minutes. But in the wake of the Zinedine Zidane sending off - for retaliating to Matterazzi's provocation - fate had decide perhaps that Italy would win. And so it was that when the talented Trezeguet carried the burden of failure for his country for a number of years.
"I accepted my responsibility. It's part of football to accept your responsibility," said Trezeguet afterwards when his shot hit the crossbar, "Penalties are part of the game."
"But it's part of the game. We have to accept it and work for the future."
"We have to hold our heads high. We know we've had a good World Cup but it was all defined by this penalty."
For the coming days and weeks it will feel the same for Bastian Schweinsteiger. But with the EURO 2012 finals just around the corner and he will no doubt have a quick opportunity to amend matters. In the same way that the historic 5 -1 defeat by England on September 1st 2001 in Munich was corrected in Bloemfontein when Germany blasted England out of the 2010 World Cup with a 4 -1 win.
It’s clear there is life after missing penalty and Basti and Arjen will have their moment in the sun again. Over the summer no doubt.
Paul Breitner did….
©OSMPremium
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