The 50th anniversary is the perfect time to remember 50 of the most famous – and infamous – attempts at the Czech’s chip. It is 50 years since Antonin Panenka won the European Championship for Czechoslovakia with the most audacious penalty ever taken, and in 2026 every football fan has an idea of what it means.
His signature chip wasn’t instantly eponymous. A search of the British newspaper archives shows that it was barely mentioned until Francesco Totti for the internet generation at Euro 2000, and it took at least another decade before Panenka was commonly used as a noun. It did not have its own Wikipedia page until 2014, but the 50th anniversary is still a fitting moment to revisit 50 of the most famous – and infamous – attempts.
A Panenka is in the eye of the beholder. Rob Smyth, doyen of penalties and author of the superb Twelve Yards, had strict criteria for what constituted a true Panenka, based on the line of the ball, its trajectory and where it hits the net. That definition would disqualify, among others, Zinedine Zidane in the 2006 World Cup final (“This penalty is the obvious misuse of the Panenka classification!”), so a looser definition has been used here. If the ball was kissed rather than kicked, the penalty is eligible.
Antonin Panenka, 1976?
Czechoslovakia 2-2 West Germany (5-3 pens)
Antonin Panenka’s penalty in the 1976 European Championship final remains the original reference point for the chip that now bears his name. It won Czechoslovakia the trophy against West Germany in Belgrade and became the template for everything that followed.
Antonin Panenka, 1979?
The next high-profile Panenka came almost three years after Belgrade, when he fooled France keeper Dominique Dropsy in a vital European Championship qualifier. Czechoslovakia ultimately pipped an emerging France – Michel Platini et al – and finished third at Euro 80. RS
Diego Maradona, 1984?
Most of Diego Maradona’s penalties were high-wire acts, Panenkas in spirit, with the ball pointedly passed nowhere near the corner to . We can’t find any examples of him taking an actual Panenka in a professional game, so we’re including one he took in training at Napoli. Two reasons: one, it’s Maradona; and two, the arc of his penalty shouldn’t be possible. But then we’d already . RS
Eric Cantona, 1989?
Bordeaux 1-1 Beauvais (3-4 pens)
In February 1989, Eric Cantona was famed more for attitude than ability, having served bans for a tackle , insulting the France coach, and greeting a friendly substitution by blootering the ball into crowd . So Marseille loaned him to Bordeaux and, when a cup game against lower-division Beauvais went to penalties, he went last. Juggling his way to the spot, , but the effort held up in the wind before landing in a puddle, allowing the keeper, who’d gone the wrong way, to wander over and pick it up, confirming the upset. Daniel Harris
Gianluca Vialli, 1990?
In the 20th century, certainly in England, a Panenka was generally referred to as a “cheeky chip”. It was also a favourite of a cheeky chap. Gianluca Vialli scored several for Sampdoria, often under extreme pressure: in the Scudetto-winning season of 1990-91, and twice during Samp’s Cup Winners’ Cup triumph of 1989-90. was against Borussia Dortmund in the last 16, in the first leg of the semi-final against Arsène Wenger’s Monaco. Vialli scored two goals in four minutes that night, then two in three when Sampdoria beat Anderlecht 2-0 . RS
Michal Bilek, 1990?
It’s neat that another Czech player was the first to try a Panenka at a World Cup, even if the circumstances were completely different. Czechoslovakia were 4-1 up in a group game against the USA when Michal Bilek, who had already scored one orthodox penalty, tried to pay tribute to 1976. After making a simple save, the USA keeper Tony Meola barked: “Get that shit outta here!” RS
Gary Lineker, 1992?
Nottingham Forest 1-1 Tottenham
Nobody ever talks about the Panenkas that Gary Lineker scored. There were at least three for Tottenham, and we’re pretty sure he’s the first serial Panenka-er in English football. The first completed a hat-trick on live TV – a big deal back in 1990 – and led to in which only one of Elton Welsby and Glenn Hoddle knew about the Euro 76 final. Lineker also scored “a nifty little Panenka”, as he put it, in a Rumbelows Cup semi-final against Nottingham Forest. – the keeper was Mark Crossley, a penalty-saving expert who had denied Lineker from the spot in the previous season’s FA Cup final. RS
A kick remembered for comedic reasons, largely through Micah Richards and Alan Shearer . But at the time this was a moment of pathos and heartbreak, , if not his last, chance to equal Bobby Charlton’s all-time England goal record. Jonathan Liew
Eric Cantona, 1994?
Manchester United 1-1 Newcastle United (5-6 pens)
In May 1994, Eric Cantona was untouchable, having inspired Manchester United to a league title then a double. In the FA Cup final, into the same corner of the net, Chelsea’s Dmitri Kharine diving the wrong way as if compelled by the shamanic power of Gallic flair. But in a shootout against Newcastle at that summer’s illustrious Ibrox International Challenge Trophy, the success of his previous Panenka in 1989 persuaded him to try another. Pavel Srnicek obligingly dived out of the way as United lost 6-5. DH
Djalminha, 1995?
Brazil’s Djalminha, the maverick’s maverick, is best remembered for his , so it’s no surprise he was partial to a rainbow kick from the penalty spot. was scored against Sergio Goycoechea, had taken Argentina to the final of Italia 90. “I noticed that he always jumped early and committed to a corner,” said Djalminha, “so I thought that was the moment to try the chip.” It quickly became tried and trusted. RS
Dwight Yorke, 1996?
Sheffield United 0-1 Aston Villa
Dwight Yorke was so sick of Mark Bosnich saving his penalties in training, he tried something completely different. It worked, so he promised to do it for real the next time Aston Villa were given a spot-kick. That was met with ridicule, and settled an FA Cup tie at Bramall Lane with a goal that changed his life. “Suddenly,” said Yorke in Born to Score, “the football world was very aware of this cheeky young buck who had dared to execute such an outrageous spot-kick. I definitely detected an increased interest in me after that match.” RS
Gianluca Vialli, 1996?
There’s no Internet Panenka Database (IPDb), which makes it impossible to say categorically who did what when. But , at the end of a game in which Chelsea were thrashed by a rampant Wimbledon, may be the first of the Premier League era. Neil Sullivan, who had been beaten from the halfway line by earlier in the season, came tantalisingly close to saving it. RS
Dwight Yorke, 1998?
“If the penalty taker has the bottle to do that, good luck to him,” said David Seaman, on the last day of the 1997-98 season. “There isn’t much a goalie can do except look pretty stupid when it goes in.” Or hold their position, which Seaman did when Yorke took another penalty against him nine months later in an epic league match between Manchester United and Arsenal. His bluff called, . RS
John Eyre, 1999?
If only there was a transcript of the great Neville Southall’s internal monologue as floated gently past him. RS
Francesco Totti, 2000?
Netherlands 0-0 Italy (1-3 pens)
In their Euro 2000 semi-final with the co-hosts, Italy put on a defensive masterclass while down to 10 men. In the inevitable shootout, Frank de Boer was denied by Francesco Toldo and Jaap Stam blasted his kick into orbit. Stam was immediately followed by Francesco Totti, foxed Edwin van der Sar and had the Dutch lurching towards despair. It also introduced the Panenka to a new generation. John Brewin
Mixu Paatelainen, 2001?
A last-minute penalty to win an Edinburgh derby is the stuff of dreams – and nightmares. because Hibs’ usual taker, Russell Latapy, had gone awol two days earlier. After scoring a hat-trick against Hearts earlier in the season, Paatelainen probably thought he could do anything. As his chipped effort sailed over the bar, he was disabused of the notion. RS
Thierry Henry, 2003?
Five days after the Battle of Old Trafford, Arsenal kickstarted their Invincible season with a ding-dong win over Bobby Robson’s Newcastle. The winner was by Henry. Maybe it was an unspoken message of defiance that Arsenal would continue to do things their own way. Maybe it meant nothing. Or maybe he was just . RS
Mickaël Landreau, 2004?
For all the spot-kicks these keepers face, surely they’d understand the right and wrong way to disguise a Panenka. . He had the chanceto secure the 2004 Coupe de la Ligue final for Nantes, but his headlong dash failed to give his lob the requisite power. Sochaux ultimately flipped the result and won the cup. Jeff Rueter
Liam Lawrence, 2004?
Huddersfield 0-0 Mansfield (4-1 pens)
Liam Lawrence scored 12 penalties, one short of Francis Lee’s English league record, to help Mansfield to the Third Division playoff final in 2003-04. When that game wheezed to a penalty competition, Lawrence was standing on the halfway line with his teammate Bobby Hassell (“a proper angry little fella”). On , Lawrence remembered their exchange.
LL I’m gonna dink it.
LL I am, honestly. I’m gonna dink it down t’middle. He’s gonna dive; there’s no way he’s gonna stand there in a playoff final.
BH Liam, don’t you fuckin’ dink that ball.
– “I got too much juice in my run-up” – to leave Mansfield 2-0 down after two penalties. “By the way,” Lawrence added, “the keeper did dive.” RS
Helder Postiga, 2004?
Portugal 2-2 England (6-5 pens)
Helder Postiga was a typical Tottenham signing of the era: a talent unfulfilled, sold at a loss after a single Premier League goal. His revenge on English football was to equalise in normal time of the Euro 2004 quarter-final and then send David James stumbling with Portugal’s sixth penalty, it barely scraped over the line. Then Darius Vassell missed, the Portugal keeper Ricardo scored, and a tournament that England’s golden generation could have won had slipped from their grasp. JB
Peter Crouch, 2006?
The then-Liverpool striker as part of World Cup preparations, yet many only remember him lifting the ball from 12 yards. Arrogance certainly played its part, wanting to secure his treble in style, but he had to wait, earning the ire of the usually calm Sven-Göran Eriksson. “It was a golden opportunity to practise for a penalty shootout, but he made a joke out of it,” the head coach spewed. “He’s apologised.” Will Unwin
Artem Milevskiy, 2006?
Ukraine 0-0 Switzerland (3-0 pens)
You’re excused if you don’t remember this one: it came of the most soporific football . RS
Zinedine Zidane, 2006?
The nerve to do it in a World Cup final. The scene was nothing new for Zidane. He’d already bagged that brace eight years earlier against Brazil; it had to be him, in his last game, dinking it off the crossbar, . It was going to be the dream sendoff – until . Taha Hashim
Yann Kermogant, 2010?
Cardiff 2-3 Leicester (agg: 3-3; 4-3 pens)
To miss a Panenka is to embrace infamy. To do so in a Championship playoff is to be consumed by notoriety. In a shootout, with the decisive kick? Insanity. Kermogant, a useful French striker who found his home in England’s second tier, into the body of the grateful Cardiff keeper, David Marshall. Kermogant is remembered for this moment above all others, possibly for eternity. He even has . JB
Sebastián Abreu, 2010?
If we were picking a Panenka XI, Sebastián Abreu would be one of , so it’s apt that he administered one at a World Cup. , best remembered for Luis Suárez’s handball and Asamoah Gyan missing a penalty in the last minute of extra-time, ended with the softest of executions. RS
Andrea Pirlo, 2012?
When England somehow prolonged their Euro 2012 quarter-final against Italy to penalties, and with his team leading 2-1 after two goes each, Joe Hart bounced and laughed, seeking to put Andrea Pirlo off … then plunged towards the corner as the ball . “He felt I was too charged not to dive,” Hart reflected on a mood-switching moment. England missed their next two kicks, with two Italian successes . “I saw [Hart] making strange movements, so I hit it like that,” Pirlo confirmed afterwards. DH
Sergio Ramos, 2012?
, Sergio Ramos was surprisingly partial to a tender Panenka. His most important came in the Euro 2012 semi-final . Bruno Alves and Spain went on to demolish Italy in the final. RS
Maicosuel, 2012?
Udinese 1-1 Braga (agg: 2-2; 4-5 pens)
The one that cost €20m. Maicosuel had just joined Udinese from Botafogo when his Panenka in a Champions League playoff against Braga. It was the only miss of the shootout. Udinese, coached by Francesco Guidolin, dropped into the Europa League and the big payday went to Braga. “I still can’t get it out of my head,” said Guidolin six years later. “It stalks me.” RS
Graziano Pellè, 2012?
SC Heerenveen 2-2 Feyenoord (6-7 pens)
Sudden death, the last 16 of the cup. You’re the seventh-choice penalty-taker, you have to score or it’s over, and you have the chutzpah ? RS
Rogério Ceni, 2013?
São Paulo 0-0 Corinthians (3-4 pens)
No surprise that one of should beat his opposite number with a Panenka. His reaction after scoring in this Campeonato Paulista semi-final shootout carried a simple message: it’s not personal, it’s strictly business. His São Paulo team lost anyway; Ceni thought he had kept them alive with a save from Alexandre Pato, but he was . Pato scored the retake emphatically. RS
Alexandre Pato, 2013?
Gremio 0-0 Corinthians (3-2 pens)
Five months later, Pato had to score to keep Corinthians in their Copa do Brasil quarter-final against Grêmio. It was an inopportune time to take . RS
Alexis Sánchez, 2015?
It’s impossible to top the historic significance of the definitive Panenka, but Alexis Sánchez came closer than anyone. , which barely left the ground, won Chile their first Copa América – and unlike Czechoslovakia in 1976, they were the hosts. The playful nature of Sánchez’s winning moment only added to the nationwide euphoria. RS
Aaron Ramsey, 2017?
The Wales team of Gareth Bale, Aaron Ramsey and co regularly made history. In a World Cup qualifier in 2017, Ramsey by scoring a Panenka of the same ground in Belgrade where it all began. “I didn’t know,” he said, “but that is quite a nice touch.” In more ways than one. RS
George Calintaru, 2017?
Juventus Bucuresti 1-2 Steaua Bucuresti
A Panenka can seriously damage your health. When George Calintaru fluffed the chance to equalise for newly-promoted Juventus Bucuresti against Steaua with the last kick of the game, his teammates set upon him in frustration. He then punched a table in the dressing room and broke a finger. RS
Fedor Smolov, 2018?
Russia’s shock run to the 2018 World Cup quarter-final was soundtracked by raucous support. The crowd in Sochi met the occasion as a shootout with Croatia was all that stood between them and a semi-final. Pedants may contend that lacked enough lob to qualify as a Panenka, but his tame prod up the middle made Danijel ...
