"PANENKA PENALTY"

The Panenka penalty is a unique technique in football where the player lightly chips the ball down the center of the goal, deceiving the goalkeeper. This techinque was Named after Czechoslovakia player Antonín Panenka, the panenka penalty got the limelight during the 1976 European Championship final and since become a popular choice for penalty kicks & is used by many prominent football stars.

ANTONIN PANENKA

EXECUTION AND TECHNIQUE OF PENANKA PENALTY :

Player typically takes a longer run-up to create the illusion of a powerful shot also some player usualy take a short run-up. Normally in penalties we see player strikes the ball with his full power to score the penalty but in Panenka penalty the player Instead of striking the ball with force, the player uses a soft touch to lift the ball gently over the goalkeeper, aiming for the center of the goal.

The success of the Panenka relies heavily on the goalkeeper's anticipation. Goalkeeper usually dives to one side misunderstanding as a normal penalty & ball slowly strikes at middle of the goal post. It can be very a brilliant move but also very risky. If the goalkeeper anticipates the chip and stays in the center, then the penalty can be easily saved.

USE OF PANENKA FREEKICK BY SOME PROMINENT PLAYERS :

• Zinedine Zidane scored the iconic goal by pananka techique in the 2006 FIFA World Cup final against Italy.
• Andrea Pirlo also scored by using panenka technique during the 2012 UEFA Euro quarter-final against England.
• There are many more players like Cristiano ronaldo, Neymar jr , karim benzema who got success in scoring panenka penalty.
• Lionel messi not only scored a penanka penalty in his carrier also was the one who took the risk of taking a Panenka freekick & he got success in scoring it . Leo messi scored Panenka freekick during Barcelona derby against Espanyol.

Coaches often teach panenka technique to players so that the player can emphasize the importance of confidence and timing. Panenka penalty is more than just a technique; it represents moment of creativity and audacity in football. It origins in a high-pressure situation. Legacy of Antonín Panenka continues to inspire players to take risks and express their individuality on the pitch.