Steve Peters and The Chimp.

Interesting that England have sought the help of Steve Peters to at the very least sort out the penalty missing fiascos at the World Cup.
Certainly his chimp in the head theory will be tested to the full on this project.
Must say though that his book is a good read, but it's a bit late for change at my time of life.

To help those who don't have a clue about this -

The problem with this is in order to get to penalties you have to not be losing after 90/120 minutes.

Hipster_Nebula wrote:The problem with this is in order to get to penalties you have to not be losing after 90/120 minutes.

Since 1990 England have been knocked out of a major tournament in a penalty shootout on six occasions. (That's over 50%)

World Cup 1990

England's penalty shoot-out hell began at Italia 90 when West Germany beat Bobby Robson's side in the semi-finals. Despite a good start to the shoot-out with Gary Lineker, Peter Beardsley and David Platt all scoring their penalties, England could not hold their nerve. For every penalty England scored the Germans netted their own. Stuart Pearce then had his penalty saved by Bodo Illgner, before Chris Waddle blasted his kick way over the crossbar as England crashed out.

Euro 96

England claimed their first and so far only shoot-out success in the quarter-final against Spain, as Pearce redeemed himself for his 1990 miss by holding his nerve at Wembley, while David Seaman's save from Miguel Angel Nadal's kick took them into the last four. But the penalty jinx returned against Germany, with Gareth Southgate's weak effort saved by Andreas Kopke as the semi-final shoot-out entered sudden death. Andreas Moller scored Germany's final penalty as England failed to bring an end to 30 years of hurt.

World Cup 1998

England drew 2-2 with Argentina in their second-round match, with the initial 90 minutes most memorable for a stunning solo goal by Michael Owen and the sending-off of David Beckham. Argentina scored the first penalty in the shoot-out and Alan Shearer equalised. Things were looking promising when Seaman saved Hernan Crespo's effort, but Paul Ince's subsequent effort was also saved. Two more penalties were converted by each side, but after Argentina went 4-3 ahead and David Batty was unable to convert to condemn England to an early departure.

Euro 2004

Another 2-2 draw meant a shoot-out, and this time England made a dreadful start as Beckham blasted the first kick over the bar. England scored their next two and Portugal missed one which meant England were back in the game. After John Terry, Owen Hargreaves and Ashley Cole all bagged their penalties the score was 5-5. Darius Vassell then had his penalty saved and the Portuguese goalkeeper Ricardo put the ball past Seaman and England were out once again.

World Cup 2006

Two years later in Germany at the World Cup, the two teams met again in the quarter-final. A goalless draw meant that England were once again facing penalties. Portugal scored their first and then Frank Lampard's effort was saved. Portugal went on to miss their next two, with Hargreaves scoring, but Gerrard was unable to press home England's advantage as his shot was saved. Portugal's Helder Postiga then netted his penalty, and Jamie Carragher missed. Cristiano Ronaldo sealed England's exit from the spot.

Euro 2012

A battling goalless draw against Italy meant England went to a quarter-final penalty shootout once more. After Mario Balotelli and Gerrard began confidently, it was advantage England after Riccardo Montolivo struck wide and hopes grew when Wayne Rooney put away his effort. However, Ashley Young rattled the bar and then Ashley Cole's effort was saved by Gianluigi Buffon, while Andrea Pirlo and Antonio Nocerino found the back of the net before Alessandro Diamanti gave the Azzurri an unassailable 4-2 lead to confirm England's elimination from a major tournament in familiar circumstances.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/euro2012/article-2164153/England-penalty-shoot-history.html

As I said difficult to see how this will work but I specifically remember Bradley Wiggins banging on about the chimp trying to get the better of him during his Tour win.
From all accounts he's been working with Liverpool recently, given the change round in their form, is there a connection?

I use this all the time at work.

It might be the placebo effect, but it certainly works for me.

What happened to the parrot sitting on your shoulder theory?
F****** primates taking over everything these days.