Images: Man United win Champions League
You have only a few seconds to place the ball on the spot and focus on beating the opposing goalkeeper. No matter how many times you lodge the ball in the net during practice, it is a different ball game when it comes to the crunch.
Manchester United's Cristiano Ronaldo and Chelsea's John Terry will surely swear by that after their botched attempts in the Champions League final on Wednesday.
Here's a look at some of the best exponents of the dead ball drill and how costly their misses turned out for their teams.
JOHN TERRY, 2008 Champions League final
John Terry slipped and with him went Chelsea's chances of winning their first ever Champions League trophy.
Manchester United were crowned kings of Europe for the third time when they beat Chelsea 6-5 on penalties after a breathless all-English Champions League final had finished 1-1 after extra-time.
Michael Ballack, Juliano Belletti, Frank Lampard and Ashley Cole had all scored and with Petr Cech saving from United's Cristiano Ronaldo, Terry merely had to score from 12 yards to win the ultimate prize for the London club.
It was a heartbreaking night for Terry as he sent what would have been the winning penalty against the outside of the post.
Manchester United 'keeper Edwin Van de Sar then saved the 'kick' from a nervous Nicholas Anelka to seal the match in the Red Devils' favour.
Photographs: AFP/Getty Images
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