Antonin Panenka has weighed in on Brahim Diaz’s high-profile penalty miss in Morocco’s Africa Cup of Nations final defeat to Senegal, offering a candid assessment of the Real Madrid midfielder’s attempt.
The moment came in injury time, with Morocco on the brink of victory, only for Brahim’s audacious ‘Panenka’ to fail and send the match into extra time, where Senegal eventually claimed the trophy.
Speaking on El Larguero, Panenka, the creator of the cheeky penalty style, questioned the preparation behind Brahim’s effort.
The style itself carries a certain audacity, and within football circles, attempting a Panenka in critical moments can be viewed as disrespectful to the opponent. Panenka, however, dismissed this notion, stressing the importance of strategy over showmanship.
“It took me two years, training every single day, to take that penalty. I watched the Africa Cup of Nations final and I’m convinced that the player, Brahim, hadn’t practiced it as thoroughly as he should have to take it that way.
“The idea came to him in that moment and he tried it. That’s why I think he didn’t score.”
For some inside the game, taking a penalty ‘Panenka-style’ is almost insulting to the opponent.
However, Antonín refutes that argument: “I can’t agree. At that moment, I thought it was the most likely way for me to score. In a European Championship final, you don’t think about mocking the opponent.
“I love football; my intention wasn’t to mock anyone. I thought it was the best way to score a goal,” he added.
