Spain’s shootout problems have been tied to repeated knockout exits rather than one isolated failure:
The broader concern is that Spain have not won a World Cup knockout match since lifting the trophy in 2010. They were eliminated in the group stage in 2014, then suffered penalty defeats in the next two editions.
The pattern has continued in other competitions. Portugal beat Spain 7-5 on penalties after a 2-2 draw in last year’s Nations League final, while Italy defeated them from the spot in the Euro 2020 semi-finals. Spain did beat Croatia in the 2023 Nations League final, but that success sits alongside several high-profile failures.
Álvaro Morata missed decisive penalties against Italy and Portugal, although he is not in Spain’s squad for this World Cup. Goalkeeper Unai Simón’s reported penalty-save rate for club and country is 17.8%, but he has stopped only one spot-kick for Spain.
Shootouts remain a low-frequency part of tournament football: only four of 13 World Cup winners since 1978 needed one on the way to the title. Argentina’s record, with six wins from seven World Cup shootouts, offers the clearest contrast.
Spain cannot control whether a knockout tie reaches penalties, but preparation, selection and goalkeeper confidence could shape their fate. Their next World Cup knockout test will reveal whether this is still a defining weakness-or simply an uncomfortable historical pattern.