The Football Association’s determination to relieve pressure on England at Euro 2024 has led them to throw a veil of secrecy over the team’s approach to penalties, underlined by players being blocked from answering questions about the squad’s shootout process.
It is understood there has been unhappiness within the FA at former staff members lifting the lid on the heavily detailed psychological work done to alter England’s tortured relationship with spot-kicks. There have been pointed remarks from Gareth Southgate, who has driven much of the change, and officials were reluctant to allow any insights to leak out after the nerveless shootout victory in Saturday’s quarter-final against Switzerland.
