25-year-old Chloe Kelly has decided many important matches for England in the last year. For Urheilu’s expert Jonne Kunnan, the tough penalty describes the attacker’s mental capacity.
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When Chloe Kelly decided the semi-final place for England in the World Cup in a penalty shootout against Nigeria, the speed of the ball reached an amazing reading.
According to the data produced by the official match ball, Kelly shot his penalty kick at approximately 111 kilometers per hour. He shot According to The Guardian harder than any man in the Premier League last season.
There are no statistics on the speed of penalty kicks in the Premier League. Of the statistics, the hardest shot was last season By Said Benrahman107 kilometers per hour.
– When I walk up to take a penalty kick, I think I’m going to score. As long as I win that mental battle, we’ll be fine, Kelly said after the quarterfinals.
You can watch Kelly’s decisive penalty kick in the video below.
Kelly was also able to answer reporters’ questions about the penalty kick at a press conference on Tuesday. Kelly was asked if she expected the performance to receive so much attention around the world.
– I don’t. It’s just tough for me. It’s just my way of shooting it like I do in practice.
Mental strength
Sports expert Jonne Kunnasen according to Kelly’s hard shot in the tight spot reflects his cool head.
– Of course, his kicking technique is of high quality, but he dares to shoot with that power in such a place. The stronger the shot, the greater the risk that it will be inaccurate. For me, this underlines his mental capacity, says Kunnas.
Kunnas sees that the key to Kelly’s diamond penalty kicks is his mental strength. The expert emphasizes that the attacker’s self-confidence and control of the situation are top notch in these moments.
– When the whistle blows, he takes a small stop, breathes, manages the situation himself and decides the rhythm. And the shot is always really high quality. His kicking technique is good, but especially thanks to the mental side, he is able to shoot with quality in tough places.
Often as a solver
The time was not the first time that Kelly decided an important victory for England. In last year’s European Championships, Kelly’s hit in the follow-up match decided the championship for England with 2–1 goals.
The final is remembered, among other things, for Kelly’s iconic ventilation. Kelly tore off his shirt and twirled it around his head as he ran around the field.
In April of this year, Kelly decided the Finalissima, i.e. the battle between the South American and European champions, with penalty kicks.
Kelly was reminded after the Nigeria match that he scored the winning goal again for England.
– No, this is really not about me. It’s about the team. We did it at the European Championships, we did it at the Finalissima and we did it again here, Kelly said.
Versatile striker
When talking about Kelly, versatility is also emphasized. The 25-year-old Englishman plays more on the wing in his club Manchester City and creates goalscoring chances for others, but in the England team he is a striker.
– He is a quality player in game situations and can play different roles. He recognizes situations well and schedules his movements at the right time and place.
In the England team, Kelly’s role has varied. He hasn’t necessarily been in the opening, but he has managed to bring new energy as a substitute player.
– England has a wide big rink and it is also important to be able to change the game. That’s what Kelly excels at, because he can bring change. Whatever is needed, he is very versatile.