Penalties played to the edges of the post, meaning very close to either the left or right side, or just underneath the crossbar, have a 99.9% chance of going in. They are the ultimate "cheat code" of penalty taking. For one, they are completely outside a standing goalkeeper's immediate range of motion. In fact, they can only be blocked if the keeper anticipates perfectly, leaps toward the target right from the start, and uses incredible reflexes to reach the ball at the extreme edge.

If you can practice these shots well and maintain your aim during high-pressure games, you place yourself in the best possible position to convert your chances.

All other types of penalties: going down the center, attempting a Panenka, or aiming to either side while trying to fake out the keeper, carry a lower probability of success. These shots are well within the keeper's reach if they anticipate the direction and dive correctly.

I watched the extra time and penalty shootout in the Morocco vs. Netherlands Round of 32 knockout game in the 2026 World Cup some hours ago, and I dare say almost all the missed penalties by both sides were targeted exactly at those difficult edges. Thumbs up to the coaching crew for proper drilling. Something I hardly ever really see with the Super Eagles or Nigerian teams.

While these penalties are almost always scored if the aim is perfect, they result in a heartbreaking miss when the accuracy is just slightly off, as the Dutch players can now testify. The Moroccans, however, won the shootout and couldn't care less about the risks this time around.

Kudos to the beautiful game!