Copy linkFacebookXPinterestEmailShare this article 0Join the conversationFollow usAdd us as a preferred source on GoogleNewsletterSubscribe to our newsletterMention the words penalty shootout to an England fan of a certain age and youre likely to trigger a visceral reaction.For a generation of Three Lions fans, the spot-kick defeats in 1990, 1996, 1998, 2004, 2006 and 2012 were enough to make them believe a level scoreline after 120 minutes meant a certain exit.That run would finally come to an end in 2018 when Colombia were vanquished in the World Cup last-16 in Russia, with England having won two of their three subsequent shootouts.Joe and Ashley Cole on Englands spot-kick recordJoe and Ashley Cole were both in the starting line-up of the 2006 World Cup quarter-final penalty shootout defeat to Portugal, a match which came two years after the pair were present for another spot-kick loss to the same opposition.But while the memories of those defeats will never be shifted, the pair are at least able to take solace in the fact that England have been able to shift their penalty hoodoo. You may like Theres going to be a moment where England are under the cosh to win the World Cup, someone is going to have to take the game by the scruff of the neck Joe Cole on what England need to do to win the World Cup Jordan Pickford on the 2018 World Cup semi-final: 'We just couldn't get the second goal' My shootout save in 2018 was a huge moment for me and the team. Wed moved on from being the underachievers to a nation that genuinely believed Jordan Pickford on ending Englands penalty hoodoo I think England have overcome that now, Joe tells FourFourTwo. But we lost a lot of shootouts from 1990 and it became a thing.You have to credit Jordan Pickford and the boys theyve turned that round, havent they? The Colombia game in 2018 was huge for this country.Get FourFourTwo NewsletterThe best features, fun and footballing quizzes, straight to your inbox every week.Contact me with news and offers from other Future brandsReceive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsorsBy submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.Now we have a keeper who can save penalties, and players used to taking them in big moments. Im confident going into the next one.Ashley Cole believes that Englands improved record is down to the coaching staff taking a more holistic approach to how penalties are practised.All we did is practise, the former Chelsea and Arsenal defender adds. We had three big goals lined up, and youd take a penalty against this goalie, another against that goalie, and a third against that goalie. What to read next EXCLUSIVE Jordan Pickford says England glory depends on 'whether we can put out the best version of ourselves' We want to be the best, so we have to turn negative moments into improvements. France were reigning champions in 2022 and knew how to succeed Jordan Pickford on the crucial fine margins at a major tournament The 2002 World Cup was the first time I was around big names. It made me understand I was capable of playing with top players and at major tournaments Ashley Cole on Englands 2002 rollercoaster tournament But now there are so many strategies that help you with your breathing, with your understanding, with so much stuff.We just put the ball down and it was, 'Pick your side, then go that side in the game.' We didnt have any coaching or mental training.Now theres a lot of data that goes into it, a lot of studies, so thats why theyre well prepared in this day and age.Could It Be Coming Home? with Joe Cole and Ashley Cole is brought to you by Carling, official sponsor of the Emirates FA Cup and Adobe Womens FA Cup. Watch the show on YouTube and Spotify, or listen to it wherever you get your podcastsTOPICSEnglandWorld CupJoe MewisSocial Links NavigationFor more than a decade, Joe Mewis has worked in football journalism as a reporter and editor. Mewis has had stints at Mirror Football and LeedsLive among others and worked at FourFourTwo throughout Euro 2024, reporting on the tournament. In addition to his journalist work, Mewis is also the author of four football history books that include times on Leeds United and the England national team. Now working as a digital marketing coordinator at Harrogate Town, too, Mewis counts some of his best career moments as being in the iconic Spygate press conference under Marcelo Bielsa and seeing his beloved Leeds lift the Championship trophy during lockdown.With contributions fromChris FlanaganSenior Staff Writer
