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5 Most Decisive Penalties That Were Missed At WC, Which Is Most Emotional?

The best feeling in football must be converting a penalty kick in front of a hostile crowd when the pressure is crushing the ice in your veins yet tells you that you can do it. Just a handful of players can rise to the challenge of taking a penalty and scoring a game-winning goal when the stakes are highest. These Most Decisive Penalties at WC are great to see.
There have been several penalty shootouts at this World Cup, and the players who took them will go down in history. Others who were under similar time constraints but failed to see it will now be wondering how they got into such a pickle. Here are the five players who, in our opinion, have missed the most crucial penalties that may have ultimately decided a game. Among Those Most Missed Free Shots in WC, What's the Most Emotional?

1. Lewandowski

Most Decisive Penalties Source: Getty Images
Even though one of the best goalkeepers in the world, Mexican goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa, anticipated Lewandowski's shot and parried away his penalty in a match against Mexico, he has been deemed the best penalty-taker in football. The match ended in a stalemate, but Poland still advanced to the next round and might have led their group and avoided a tough opponent in the round of 16. Poland advanced to the finals on goal differential but was knocked out of the tournament by France in the final game.

2. Marquinhos

Most Decisive Penalties
The PSG defender will have a sour taste in his mouth whenever he thinks back on that day, as his ricochet helped set up Croatia's equalizer, and he also missed a crucial penalty that could have kept Brazil in the game. Marquinhos stepped up to take the fourth penalty with Brazil losing 4-2 on penalties; a successful conversion would have kept them in the game; unfortunately, his shot hit bottom right corner bar, ending Brazil's agonizing quest for a fifth World Cup.

3. Andre Ayew

Most Decisive Penalties
The focus of the Ghanaian team seemed to be on getting revenge rather than on winning. Andre Ayew, who played for Ghana in 2010 when Luis Suarez ended their hopes by saving a shot with his hands and was sent off, and Uruguay went on to win the World Cup on penalties, was part of the penalty that gave Ghana an early lead.
Ayew's penalty was saved by goalie Rochet, suggesting that he was still recovering from that incident. South Korea's goal in the penultimate minute ensured their advancement to the round of 16. Uruguay took advantage of the break and scored twice, but none counted. The game's outcome would have been different if Ayew had scored on his penalty.

4. Sergio Busquets


He should have taken the penalty early in the game, but he took it third. Morocco had the upper hand with a 2-0 penalty advantage, but Busquets might have lifted his team's spirits with a successful kick. Bounou correctly predicted his penalty, and Spain was eliminated from World Cup contention when he made the save—a testament to his penalty-taking prowess and the lack thereof.

5. Harry Kane


Kane's penalty would have kept England in the game, but his missed opportunity will haunt the Three Lions captain for a long time. Mason Mount, a Chelsea midfielder, entered the game with France leading 2-1 and was immediately fouled. Even though the judge's decision was overruled. Referee Wilton Pereira pointed to the penalty box, and VAR requested him to review again.
England could tie the game in the 82nd minute if they scored a penalty. Kane, who has previously converted a penalty, showed confidence and ease. But it looked like Kane caved under pressure and skied his penalty, much to the delight of French fans and players. England ultimately went home without scoring a goal.
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