LONDON — England coach Roy Hodgson believes using penalties to settle deadlocked friendlies could help reverse his team’s dismal record in tournament shootouts.
Report by Reuters
England lost its sixth shootout from seven attempts to be ousted from the European Championship quarterfinals in June by Italy. Looking ahead to 2014 World Cup preparations, Hodgson says “maybe in one of the friendly matches if the game finishes in a draw you should suggest to the opponents that, ‘Let’s finish it on a penalty shootout’.”
Hodgson told Sky Sports TV the suggestion would give players more experience “in front of a big crowd than there is when you are taking penalties day after day in training”.
In 2013, England has two friendlies against Brazil, plus fixtures against Ireland and Scotland, on top of World Cup qualifiers.
