BBC Sport and Opta have scoured the data from every kick up to the Euro 2020 final, going back to the first shootout in 1976. Then came the late equaliser and a swift counter down the left saw the students carve Watsonians open and secure a far post finish amongst a pile up of sticks. 4-4, and a shootout to separate them. And it just had to be because of a penalty shootout. In a tense shootout, it was the Italians who prevailed 3-2 on penalties, spearheaded by a heroic performance from goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma. Specialists in trauma. Since 1992, the Dutch have departed three World Cups and three Euros on penalties. The most harrowing/hilarious came in Euro 2000, when the Netherlands dominated a semi-final against Italy but contrived to miss two penalties in normal time, then three from four in the shootout. The two triumphs came in Euro 2004 against Sweden, then the 2014 World Cup when Louis van Gaal brought on keeper Tim Krul to help KO Costa Rica. The Oranje have lost two shootouts since, both to Argentina. At least that cannot happen in 2024.
Hierheen