COMPETITION | Twelve Yards: The Art and Psychology of the Perfect Penalty

waddleConventional wisdom suggests that if the World Cup is on, you’re never too far away from an England penalty shootout exit. Regardless of how well things are going for Roy’s Boys in Brazil this summer, there’s always the likelihood of Phil Jagielka catapulting a spotkick out of the Maracanã and into the Atlantic like a busted seaplane. That’s just science. You don’t mess with science.

To pay tribute to this the cursed and bewildering phenomenon, we’re giving away 5(FIVE) copies of Ben Lyttleton’s excellent book, Twelve Yards: The Art and Psychology of the Perfect Penalty.

All you handsome lot need to do to be in with a chance of winning, is name the seven England players who’ve missed penalties at the World Cup since 1990. Answers either mailed to whoframedruelfox@hotmail.co.uk, in the comments section below or sent to @ruelfox. 5 lucky entrants will be picked at random.

Very best of luck!

12yardsTWELVE YARDS

The Art and Psychology of the Perfect Penalty

byBen Lyttleton

Published by Bantam Press on 22 May 2014, £12.99 hardback

 

 

 

 

 

It shouldn’t be that hard, should it? It’s just a matter of placing a ball into a goal measuring eight feet high and eight yards wide, with only a six-foot man able to stop you. Yet the humble penalty kick has produced an inordinate amount of drama, trauma, boundless joy and shattered dreams since its invention in the late 19th century. And it is not just England who have suffered at its hands.

In Twelve Yards, Ben Lyttleton tells the definitive story of the spot-kick – how to take them, how not to miss them, and the different ways that penalty-takers and goalkeepers approach them, both physically and mentally. And everyone has a tale to tell. Why did Roberto Baggio miss in the 1994 World Cup final? How did Petr Cech dive the right way six times running to help Chelsea win the 2012 Champions League final? What would have happened if Antonin Panenka had missed his famous penalty in 1976? And what has John Wayne got to do with penalties?

To uncover the secrets of taking the perfect penalty,Lyttleton spoke to a player from every team that has beaten England on penalties.  He talked to former England players including Alan Shearer, Michael Owen and Matt Le Tissier; to current England player Rickie Lambert; to goalkeepers who take penalties, like Hans-Jorgen Butt, Jose Luis Chilavert and Ricardo; to leading coaches from other sports, including Sir Clive Woodward and Sir David Brailsford; and to psychologists and sports scientists.

‘Brilliant… a book every England player should read’Matt Le Tissier

 ‘Fascinating insight… highly recommended for fans, coaches and athletes in all sports.’

Sir Clive Woodward

 ‘A wonderful book: extremely well-researched, well-written and international in its scope. Ben Lyttleton has done something very rare in football writing: he has got access to some of the game’s leading players and coaches and got them to talk articulately and thoughtfully about a key aspect of their game. Twelve Yards reveals the level of intelligence that exists within professional football:­ a more cerebral zone than many people realize.’    Simon Kuper

 Ben Lyttleton is a European football writer and broadcaster whose work has been syndicated in more than twenty countries. He is also a director of Soccernomics, the football consultancy. @benlyt   #twelveyards

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