Goalkeepers make their mark in penalty shootouts at Qatar World Cup

The goalkeepers have been the focus of attention and the ultimate hero as two of the eight pre-quarterfinals and two quarterfinals have been decided on penalties. Goalkeepers in the semifinals Yassine Bounou - Morocco Age: 31, Caps: 50, Qatar 2022 clean sheets: 4, Qatar 2022 goals conceded: 1 Hugo Lloris - France Age: 35, Caps: 143, Qatar 2022 clean sheets: 0, Qatar 2022 goals conceded: 5 Dominik Livakovic - Croatia Age: 27, Caps: 39, Qatar 2022 clean sheets: 2, Qatar 2022 goals conceded: 3 Emiliano Martinez - Argentina Age: 30, Caps: 24, Qatar 2022 clean sheets: 2, Qatar 2022 goals conceded: 5 Former Swiss No. 1 and Faryd Mondragon’s fellow FIFA Technical Study Group member, Pascal Zuberbuhler feels the numbers is astonishing given the fact that goalkeepers these days must keep one foot on the line till a penalty is taken. German World Cup winner Jurgen Klinsmann, the head of the FIFA group, however, feels the delays faced by penalty takers because of VAR checks might have adversely impacted the strikers. With four matches left in Qatar 2022, the focus will continue to be on the shot-stoppers – Livakovic, Emiliano Martinez, Yassine Bounou and Hugo Lloris – as teams look to negotiate the final two hurdles.