Marginal gains, deception and entertainment: This is why players take Panenkas
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Brahim Diaz’s missed Panenka penalty in the Africa Cup of Nations final
“Lionel Messi has done it. Zinedine Zidane has done it. Sergio Ramos has done it. Andrea Pirlo has done it. Achraf Hakimi has done it. Cole Palmer has done it. Solid players, all of them. So it makes sense that if those guys thought it was a good idea, then why not Brahim Diaz? Last Sunday, Brahim had the chance to win the Africa Cup of Nations for Morocco. A penalty after 15 minutes of high drama. They were playing at home, in their first final since 2004. They haven’t won the tournament since 1976. Brahim had been the player of the tournament, and this was his chance to add a single moment of ultimate glory and make himself a hero for life. …”
NY Times/The Athletic