Overview

• Penalties have converted at just 48% so far, compared with the usual 75–80% expected in major competitions.
• Knockout-stage pressure exploded in the quarter-finals, where 12 of the tournament’s 13 misses occurred, highlighted by England vs Sweden’s 14-penalty shootout that yielded only five goals.
• Star players including Alexia Putellas, Mariona Caldentey and Ada Hegerberg have succumbed to nerves, often firing penalties off target or into the goalkeeper’s reach.
• Germany stands alone with a flawless penalty record (1/1) after Sjoeke Nüsken’s spot-kick against Denmark, setting up a quarter-final against France to test their preparation.
• Observers are divided on whether these failures represent a unique anomaly or signal a sustained downturn in penalty efficiency.