Euro 2020 to be eliminated by penalty shootout odds: Who will suffer spot-kick woe?
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Euro 2020 starts on Friday and England fans will be dreading the prospect of a penalty shootout in the knockout stages.
England have lost six of their eight shootouts at major tournaments, with current manager Gareth Southgate famously missing the crucial penalty in the semi-final against Germany at Euro 96.
Given their poor record from 12 yards, England feature prominently in the Euro 2020 to be eliminated by penalty shootout odds.
Here we assess which sides are likely to endure spot-kick heartache this summer.
England to face more misery?
Despite beating Colombia in a shootout at the 2018 World Cup, England have a dismal record when it comes to penalties.
The Three Lions have lost three of their four shootouts in European Championships, most recently against Italy in 2012, and are 4/1 joint favourites to be eliminated on penalties.
Their only win came against Spain in the quarter-finals of Euro 96, although any joy was short-lived as Southgate’s miss in the next round saw Germany progress to the final.
Pain in Spain?
Spain went out of the last World Cup to Russia on penalties and are 4/1 joint favourites with England to exit after spot-kicks.
Italy, one of three teams to depart the last Euros on penalties, are 5/1 – as are Holland, Belgium, Portugal and, perhaps surprisingly, Germany.
The Germans have won their last six shootouts, with their only defeat coming against Czechoslovakia in the 1976 European Championship final.
Can Scotland maintain penalty perfection?
Scotland booked their place at a first major finals since 1998 with play-off victories over Israel and Serbia – both on penalties.
Steve Clarke’s side scored all five kicks in both encounters, so would presumably fancy their chances should they get to the knockout stages.
Having qualified via penalties, Scotland are 14/1 to exit Euro 2020 by the same method.
How many games will go to penalties?
Three matches were settled by spot-kicks at Euro 2016, with a price of 5/6 for 2-3 games to go the distance this time around.
There were two penalty shootouts at both the 2008 and 2012 tournaments, although crucially there were only seven knockout games in both, rather than the 15 introduced four years ago.
Based on that ratio it would be expected that there could be 4-5 penalty shootouts at this summer’s tournament and that scenario is priced at 9/2.
A price of 20/1 is available for those who fancy a bumper haul of six or more penalty shootouts while in contrast it is 15/8 for there to be 0-1 games decided by spot-kicks.
All odds and markets correct as of date of publication
