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Gareth Southgate wants England to practise penalties ahead of World Cup

England manager Gareth Southgate after the final whistle during the 2018 FIFA World Cup Qualifying, Group F match at Wembley Stadium, London.
Image: England were unbeaten again in qualifying but have a poor record in recent international tournaments

Gareth Southgate might make his England team do a mock penalty shoot-out in front of a crowd at Wembley to help them prepare for the World Cup.

England have been eliminated via penalties in six major tournaments since Italia 90.

Those have come in three World Cups and three European Championships, with their only success in a shoot-out coming against Spain in Euro 96.

Gareth Southgate misses the decisive penalty as England are knocked out of Euro 96 against Germany at Wembley.
Image: Gareth Southgate missed the decisive penalty when England were knocked out of Euro 96 against Germany at Wembley

Southgate has suggested he will make them practise in pressurised conditions to mimic what they may face at next year's World Cup finals in Russia.

"It's something that we are considering how we prepare best for penalty shoot-outs," said Southgate.

"Whether that's something on the training ground, whether that's in sessions we do away from the training ground, or something we do in some sort of match scenario.

"We've not finalised that yet but clearly that [match situation] is an option."

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Southgate has decided against trialling his idea when England play Brazil at Wembley on Tuesday but has further opportunities against Italy and the Netherlands before the tournament in Russia.

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