USWNT's rich history with penalty kicks at the World Cup - ESPN

AUCKLAND, New Zealand — The just-concluded group stage at the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup was arguably the most captivating in the tournament's history, and surprises and chaos were the order of the day.

Presumed heavyweights Germany, Brazil and Canada failed to make it out of their respective groups. The two-time defending Women's World Cup champions U.S. barely scraped by, saved by the post in its group stage finale against Portugal. Then there was the dramatic goal scored by South Africa's Thembi Kgatlana against Italy that propelled Banyana Banyana to a 3-2 victory and into the knockout rounds at the Italians' expense. Jamaica's master class in defending also saw it emerge from the group stage for the first time in its history.

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But now a different kind of drama awaits, that being the knockout stages: win or go home. And there's always the possibility that the sport's ultimate shot of adrenaline, the penalty shootout, might make an appearance. Odds are that spot kicks will decide at least one match in this tournament, too: you'd have to go back to 2007 to find the last time a Women's World Cup didn't have a penalty shootout.

In a sport filled with clashes and individual battles, a penalty kick is soccer's ultimate duel. In an age where just about every professional game can be scouted and data compiled, there aren't many secrets in terms of a shooter's preferences and a goalkeeper's history in stopping penalties. So what commences instead is a «Princess Bride»-style battle of wits.

The goalkeeper knows which way the shooter has gone in the past, so she'll react accordingly. But the shooter knows that the