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Explained in plain English

Why do they always lose on penalties?

England's football teams have a bit of a reputation for losing penalty shootouts in major tournaments. It's often put down to pressure, a lack of practice, or even just plain bad luck. While this story's match wasn't decided by penalties, the 1966 win is a rare highlight in a history often marked by close calls and heartbreak, including some famous shootout losses.

Stories that explain this

England beat France 6-4 in a 10-goal World Cup third-place thriller

Questions this opens up

Who takes penalties? Is it really bad luck? What is a shootout?

Related explainers

Are penalties fair? Could it be more often? Who was Didier Deschamps? England's 1966 World Cup win What is 'football coming home'? Why haven't they won since? Who will replace him? What is a third-place play-off?

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