It is now nearly 49 years since Antonin Panenka won the European Championship for Czechoslovakia. After Germany’s Uli Hoeness had missed in the penalty shoot-out that followed a 2-2 draw in the 1976 final, Panenka knew that if he were to score, his team would be champions.
He dashed forward towards the spot and Sepp Maier, assuming he was going to blast his shot towards a corner, made his choice and dived athletically to his left. Instead, without breaking stride, the midfielder chipped the ball straight down the middle, arcing it over the prostrate Maier. It was a penalty of such audacity, such drama, such consequence, it came to be known by its inventor’s name.