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In a recent interview with Le Parisien, former French national team goalkeeper Hugo Lloris has expressed skepticism regarding the French Football Federation’s (FFF) strategy to enhance France’s performance in penalty shootouts through organized training sessions. Lloris, who captained the French team that reached the finals of both the 2018 and 2022 FIFA World Cups, argues that experience, rather than a structured system, is the key to improving France’s prowess in penalty shootouts.
Experience over training: Lloris’ perspective
Lloris believes that France’s ability in penalty shootouts can only be truly honed through lived experiences rather than planned training regimes. Pointing to Argentina, the nation that thwarted France’s bid for back-to-back World Cup victories in 2022, Lloris emphasizes the importance of enduring such high-pressure situations to excel. He notes that Argentina’s composure during penalties stemmed from their previous encounters, including a crucial semifinal win in the 2021 Copa America against Colombia and quarterfinal success against the Netherlands. Despite Argentina’s success, Lloris highlights their previous defeats in Copa America finals, suggesting that these experiences were instrumental in their eventual triumphs.
Additionally, Lloris suggests that the Argentine players held an advantage over their French counterparts at the club level, particularly in penalty-taking proficiency. He observes that while Argentine players regularly take penalties for their clubs, only a select few French players, such as Kylian Mbappé, have comparable experience. Lloris emphasizes that the acquisition of such experience often arises from defeats and believes that emerging talents like Kingsley Coman or Aurélien Tchouaméni will gain this crucial experience given the opportunity.
The psychological aspect of penalty shootouts
One of the challenges in implementing the FFF’s plan lies in the intricate blend of performance and psychology inherent in penalty shootouts, according to Hugo Lloris. Reflecting on his own career, Lloris acknowledges that while he has made significant penalty saves, he hasn’t always excelled in this aspect of the game. Drawing a comparison with Argentine goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez, Lloris highlights Martínez’s psychological approach to penalties, viewing them as a mental game. While Lloris admits his personal struggles in this regard, he also notes that Martínez, despite his prowess, hasn’t emerged victorious in every penalty shootout he’s encountered.
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