Planet Money · Friday, July 3, 2026
Since 2008, teams have increasingly used data analysis, inspired by economists like Ignacio Palacios-Huerta, to prepare for penalty shootouts. This has led to strategies like taping crib sheets to water bottles and practicing under simulated shootout conditions.
“Since 2008, a lot of teams have used Ignacio's data strategy to prepare for penalty shootouts.”
“And goalies now often even have their crib sheets taped onto their water bottles.”
“What you want to do is practice penalty kicks under kind of shootout conditions.”