England are already practising penalties ahead of the World Cup in Russia.
Gareth Southgate's men have even practised the nerve-wrecking walk from the halfway line, according to goalkeeper Jordan Pickford, speaking via the Guardian ahead of the tournament:
"We've been doing the walk from the halfway line," he said. "We're not looking too far ahead but behind the scenes we're doing a lot of work to be prepared for how we'd want to go about it," said the Everton goalie.
"It's pot luck sometimes. Sometimes you've just got to pick a side [to dive to], wait and attack that side. If you get there you get there and if you don't, get the next one. It's like a lottery. If you save a couple you can be a hero but there's no pressure on you."
Pickford believes that there is an element of good fortune involved, but manager Southgate isn't so sure, believing that the squad desperately need to get up to snuff in the penalty department.
The former Middlesbrough boss knows too well about England's atrocious record from 12 yards at major tournaments. The heartbreak of the Italia 1990 World Cup, Bobby Robson's men went out on penalties, keeper Peter Shilton unable to keep out West Germany's four strikes. Heart-breaking.
In fact, England have lost six out of the last seven competitions because of penalties.
This time will be different, however.
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England have Harry Kane, Jamie Vardy, Raheem Sterling and Dele Alli, all players who will come out on top. England have the possibility of facing the likes of Spain, Germany, Portugal, Brazil and Argentina but everyone knows that this time, the World Cup is theirs, that Southgate and his band of absolute heroes will bringing the trophy back from Russia, cementing themselves into history as legends.
Do you agree with this assessment?
It's hard to see different, but let us know in the comments sections if, for some odd reason, you disagree.
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