Connect with us

EURO 2025

The strangeness of penalties at the Euros

A lot of penalties have gone begging in Switzerland this summer. Have players gotten worse at it, or is there something else going on?

Smilla Holmberg holds her face in her hands after missing her penalty attempt for Sweden in the shootout against England in the UEFA Women's Euro 2025 quarterfinal in Zurich, Switzerland on July 17 2025.
FRANCESCO FARINA / SPP

The UEFA Women’s Euro quarterfinal penalty shootout between Sweden and England was bad enough.

https://youtu.be/iBKz8GPFj44?si=-TdJnPUfZznR7r1n&t=607

We witnessed the rare moment when the majority of penalties were not converted: nine from 14 attempts.

The very next day, Spain somehow did their part to aid in the penalty crisis.

Access the best women’s soccer coverage all year long
Start your FREE, 7-day trial of The Equalizer Extra for industry-leading reporting and insight on the USWNT, NWSL and beyond.

Your account

Advertisement

MORE EXTRA

More in EURO 2025