England vs Czech Republic: Antonin Panenka on the penalty that shook the world

They were two penalties that shook the football world and, 43 years on from the Euro 1976 final, continue to do so.

Firstly a German missed a penalty – Uli Hoeness blazing the ball over the bar at Belgrade’s Red Star Stadium – and then a Czechoslovakian footballer stepped up and changed the art of spot-kick taking for all-time.

Antonin Panenka will be in Prague for the Czech Republic’s showdown with England on Friday, watching on as one of the confirmed wonders of the football world – a man with the rare sporting honour of having a piece of skill named after him. That list is not a lengthy one.

But had his cheeky and delicious dink down the middle of the goal – leaving Sepp Maier looking helplessly on - all those years ago gone awry then things might have turned out very differently indeed.

“A lot of people ask me what would have happened if I hadn’t scored that goal in the final – I tell them I would now be a factory worker with 40 years of experience,” he says, smiling broadly.

His display of impudence led to an outpouring of joy, not just on the pitch in the then Yugoslavian capital but also on the streets of Czechoslovakia. In the 1970s, large public gatherings were usually only permissible by virtue of an order from the country’s communist government. When Panenka scored, though, convention went out of the window pretty quickly.

“In Czechoslovakia, it was a common thing that the Communist Party order people to go to the streets and welcome politicians from East Germany or the Soviet Union,” he says. “But after Belgrade people went onto the streets voluntary, and everyone was happy. I mean everyone - kids, old people, men, women. Even now, all these years on, I get people here stopping me in the street wanting to talk about that goal.

“In that final against (West) Germany I was not nervous at all. In the shootout, I knew that this way was the best chance to score. When it went in I was so happy not because I scored the last penalty, but because we won this amazing trophy as such a small nation.”

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As Panenka explains, though, his penalty was no fluke. “I practised it for two years before the 1976 Euros,” he says. “I just figured that every keeper always jumps to one side, so it could be good to kick the ball in the middle (of the goal).

“After every practice, I competed with our goalkeeper (Zdenek) Hruška in penalties. He was really good. I was losing a lot of money and chocolates.

“Then I started to use my little trick, and suddenly I was more often winning. That was the good thing. The bad thing was that I was getting fatter because of all the chocolates I won off him.”

He obviously didn’t know it at the time, but the chip he pioneered has since become one of football’s greatest sights. The goalkeeper left sitting squarely on his backside as the ball sails, almost mockingly, into the back of the net.

It can also go wrong, as Jevani Brown of Colchester will tell you after his effort against Spurs in a Carabao Cup tie last month.

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Now 70, Panenka – who scored 17 goals in 59 appearances for Czechoslavakia – continues to keep a keen eye out for those who choose to take the risk of emulating his slight of foot.

“I’m glad the idea continues and of course it makes me proud,” he says. “Especially when I see that even great stars like Sergio Ramos take the penalty like me.”

Penenka spent the majority of his career at Bohemians Praha before a switch to Rapid Vienna in 1981. Now, a display of skill like the one in Belgrade would have sent Premier League scouts into a state of frenzy. But back then, a move to English football would have been unthinkable.

When I ask him if he could have played in the old First Division he laughs. “Nooooo,” he says. “English football was not a fit for me. I like the technical way of play. Back in the day with Bohemians we played friendlies against English teams at least twice a year – and we never won.”

It would be a surprise if England didn’t hold the whip-hand in Prague again on Friday evening, with the Czech Republic a pale imitation of the once great Czechslovakian sides that routinely qualified for World Cups – finishing runners-up in 1934 and 1962 – and were one of the most feared teams in Europe.

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The current Czech Republic side's 5-0 mauling at the hands of England at Wembley will still be fresh in their minds. Jaroslav Silhavy's side will also be acutely aware that Kosovo are breathing down their necks in the race for second place in Group A.

“It won´t be easy for England, but they are still supposed to win this game – the Czechs can only surprise,” he says.

“It will be harder in Prague of course and. I think there won´t be so many goals as at Wembley. If Czechs play well? Maybe it can be draw. We are in a position where we have nothing to lose.

“England are one of the strongest teams in Europe now. I like the player composition of this team. England was always combative force, but now I see a lot of finesse also.”

The blood and thunder days that made Panenka unsuited to the English game are gone, replaced by something rather more elegant.

Little wonder the Czech maestro approves.