Going first in a penalty shootout gives teams an advantage … or does it?

Thirteen of the past 15 shootouts at World Cups have been won by the team that went second By Opta Analyst After watching 120 minutes of football, you might not find observing a coin toss the most exciting dessert. Fans in the stadium care, though. Win a coin toss for a penalty shootout and you choose the end where they are taken – to much rejoicing from those behind the chosen goal. Another coin toss also allows the winner to choose whether to go first or second. But does that decision actually matter? For years, the consensus was that going first in a shootout gives teams an advantage. Being

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