Let’s examine ADG with the 2006 World Cup Final as a hypothetical example. (While the author believes that ADG after 90 minutes will be the optimal format, the players listed below are those who were on the field at the completion of extra time.) The Italians have eleven players and the French have ten due to Zidane’s red card. The Italians have Zambrotta on a yellow card, while the French have Makelele, Malouda and Sagnol all on yellow cards. The Italians win the coin toss and choose to attack in the first contest. Both teams receive an additional substitution.
The referee meets separately with the teams and records their five attackers and the order in which they will compete.
1
3
4
5
7
8
9
15
19
21
23
Buffon (GK)
Grosso
De Rossi
Cannavaro
Del Piero
Gattuso
Toni
Iaquinta
Zambrotta
Pirlo
Materazzi
16
3
5
6
7
11
15
18
19
20
Barthez (GK)
Abidal
Gallas
Makelele
Malouda
Wiltord
Thuram
Diarra
Sagnol
Trezeguet
Italy have Del Piero as their first attacker and the French select Sagnol as their defender. Barthez is the goalkeeper. The referee blows his whistle and the stadium clock counts down from twenty seconds. Del Piero dribbles the ball past Sagnol and gets a powerful shot away that leaves Barthez flailing. Goal!
France have Makelele as their attacker and Italy select Grosso as their defender. Buffon is the goalkeeper. Grosso brilliantly tackles Makelele and kicks the ball over the touchline.
Italy have De Rossi as their attacker and France select Thuram as their defender. De Rossi skips past Thuram and shoots from distance. Barthez makes the save.
France have Malouda as their attacker and Italy select Zambrotta as their defender. Malouda is immediately fouled by a reckless challenge from Zambrotta. The defender receives his second yellow card of the match and is sent off. Malouda converts the penalty kick.
Italy have Pirlo as their attacker and France select Gallas as their defender. Gallas dispossesses Pirlo of the ball and kicks it over the halfway line.
France have Diarra as their attacker and Italy select Gattuso as their defender. Diarra attempts a long range shot directly from the kick-off. Buffon makes the save.
Italy have Iaquinta as their attacker and France opt not play a defender. Remember that the French are a man down because of Zidane’s red card. Iaquinta dribbles into the penalty box, fakes out Barthez with some clever footwork and angles the ball into the net.
France have Wiltord as their attacker and Italy select Materazzi as their defender. Wiltord manages to get past Materazzi, but his long range shot misses the goal.
Italy have Toni as their attacker and France select Abidal as their defender. Toni hops past Abidal and gets a powerful shot away. Barthez makes a spectacular diving save.
The French need to score to push the match into sudden death ADG. France have Trezeguet as their attacker, while Italy will have Cannavaro as their defender. Cannavaro makes a superb tackle on Trezeguet and kicks the ball over the touchline. Italy win the 2006 FIFA World Cup! View Completed Scorecard.
# | Attacker | Defender | Goalkeeper | Result | ADG Score |
1 | Del Piero | Sagnol | Barthez | Goal | ITA 1-0 FRA |
2 | Makelele | Grosso | Buffon | - | ITA 1-0 FRA |
3 | De Rossi | Thuram | Barthez | - | ITA 1-0 FRA |
4 | Malouda | Zambrotta | Buffon | Goal | ITA 1-1 FRA |
5 | Pirlo | Gallas | Barthez | - | ITA 1-1 FRA |
6 | Diarra | Gattuso | Buffon | - | ITA 1-1 FRA |
7 | Iaqunita | - | Barthez | Goal | ITA 2-1 FRA |
8 | Wiltord | Materazzi | Buffon | - | ITA 2-1 FRA |
9 | Toni | Abidal | Barthez | - | ITA 2-1 FRA |
10 | Trezeguet | Cannavaro | Buffon | - | ITA 2-1 FRA |
"The penalties are always a lottery."