Analysis of Penalty Kicks in International Competitions

Abstract

The penalty kick is a fundamental rule in football—Law 14 of the Laws of the Game—awarded when an opposing player commits a serious foul inside the penalty area, thereby allowing a direct attempt at goal. An observational study conducted during the UEFA Euro 2021 and CONMEBOL Copa América 2021 revealed that right-footed players took 73% of all penalty kicks. Overall, 63% of the kicks were converted, while only 30% were saved, underscoring the effectiveness of the takers. The most frequently chosen target was zone 7, representing 26% of the shots, whereas goalkeepers dived predominantly toward the lower part of the goal on 40% of occasions. Notably, even though right-footed players accounted for most attempts, left-footed players exhibited a lower miss rate, failing on only five occasions. Collectively, these findings offer practical insights for coaches and players, helping them refine strategy and decision-making in high-pressure situations such as penalty shoot-outs.