5 things Gareth Southgate must do to take England to the next level

#5 Being brave at penalties

Engalnd — England won a shootout against Columbia to progress into the quarter-finals

English fans are not accustomed to seeing their team win a shootout. But they did exactly that against Columbia at the last World Cup, and it could be the start of a long running momentum they need in penalty shootouts.

In big tournaments where the margins are so subtle, even if everything goes excellent, sometimes the most significant chance to cement a legacy is to win a penalty shootout. This will almost inevitably come England's way.

The last shootout victory against Colombia will count for nothing if their next shootout ends in defeat. Another win however would wash away some negative vibes around England and their shootout nightmares.

About the author

A sports enthusiast and an avid follower of football.

Since childhood I was encouraged to play cricket and in no time it became a hobby. Gradually I found interest in other sports also.

Football is in my blood and I love the electrifying ambiance that surrounds it. I often watch the pre and post match analysis of a match and try to learn how to analyze a football game.

The thing that intrigues me the most is that there are so many things happening behind the scenes that are oblivious to our naked eyes. The technological advancements that has been made are phenomenal.

I like analyzing a game from a statistical point of view. Being a data guy myself , I am firm believer of providing insights through facts and data. Though a game is always unpredictable , analyzing it from different dimensions can provide some very interesting conclusions.

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Edited by Anthony Akatugba Jr.