Just watched the Europa League Final between Benfica and Sevilla... well, it wasn't exactly gripping so I dipped in and out of it to be honest. But I watched extra-time and the penalty shoot out. Great, positive pens from Sevilla, two of Benfica's four were just horrible. If I were a manager, I'd shoot any player who did the stupid stuttering run-up, which often seems to put off the taker as much as the keeper. Never liked it ever since (I think) John Aldrige started the trend, and still don't like it. Oh well, it's not like I particularly cared who won this final, but I wouldn't want to be one or two of the Benfica players.
Don't know why players take penalties like that, bloody stupid, just smash the thing. It wasn't the greatest of games to watch though
I think that I am right in saying that they have now lost the last 7 finals that they have played in and have not won a European trophy since 1962.
As a keeper I have developed a way to control where the player puts the penalty. Stuttering run ups give the keeper both an indication of where the penalty is going and take away power from shots. I thought they'd banned stuttering run ups.
