Petr Cech and Oliver Kahn have revealed the tricks used by goalkeepers when it comes to penalties.
Draws are no longer an option in the World Cup with the group phase now over, so a number of games are likely to be settled by spot-kicks over the next couple of weeks.
Penalty shoot-outs are nervy occasions for players and supporters alike, although many goalkeepers claim to relish the chance to become heroes.
With the odds stacked heavily in favour of those trying to score, former Germany and Bayern Munich keeper Kahn admits he had to become attuned to the subtlest of signs from his opponent.
"You can read a lot from the body language of the shooter and where he will be shooting," said Khan.
"It is a psychological game between the goalkeeper and the taker. It has a lot to do with eye contact and body language.
"You can irritate the shooter with your body language, you can see whether a player is fearful and you can see from the eyes of a taker if he makes a small mistake into which corner that ball will go."
Cech, who plays for Chelsea and Czech Republic, concedes that goalkeepers also have psychological battles with themselves ahead of a penalty.
"You do your homework, you know where the player can shoot, what is his habit, if he waits for the goalkeeper or if he chooses the corner," Cech said.
"But you need to be strong, stay calm, try to keep your homework working, then you have a chance of saving the ball."
Although Khan did his homework when Bayern beat Valencia on penalties in the 2001 UEFA Champions League final, he did not use what he had learned.
"I still remember very clearly. I was working with my coach to figure out what all the players' tactics were," Kahn recalled.
"But (on the field) I forgot all of that. I (went) straight into a phase of absolute concentration."
Kahn accepts that concentration and mind games alone will not help a goalkeeper make a crucial penalty save.
He added: "You always need a certain amount of luck."
Draws are no longer an option in the World Cup with the group phase now over, so a number of games are likely to be settled by spot-kicks over the next couple of weeks.
Penalty shoot-outs are nervy occasions for players and supporters alike, although many goalkeepers claim to relish the chance to become heroes.
With the odds stacked heavily in favour of those trying to score, former Germany and Bayern Munich keeper Kahn admits he had to become attuned to the subtlest of signs from his opponent.
"You can read a lot from the body language of the shooter and where he will be shooting," said Khan.
"It is a psychological game between the goalkeeper and the taker. It has a lot to do with eye contact and body language.
"You can irritate the shooter with your body language, you can see whether a player is fearful and you can see from the eyes of a taker if he makes a small mistake into which corner that ball will go."
Cech, who plays for Chelsea and Czech Republic, concedes that goalkeepers also have psychological battles with themselves ahead of a penalty.
"You do your homework, you know where the player can shoot, what is his habit, if he waits for the goalkeeper or if he chooses the corner," Cech said.
"But you need to be strong, stay calm, try to keep your homework working, then you have a chance of saving the ball."
Although Khan did his homework when Bayern beat Valencia on penalties in the 2001 UEFA Champions League final, he did not use what he had learned.
"I still remember very clearly. I was working with my coach to figure out what all the players' tactics were," Kahn recalled.
"But (on the field) I forgot all of that. I (went) straight into a phase of absolute concentration."
Kahn accepts that concentration and mind games alone will not help a goalkeeper make a crucial penalty save.
He added: "You always need a certain amount of luck."
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