Goalkeeping mistakes can be devastating for a team, often leading to goals and defeats that could have otherwise been avoided.
In this article, we’ll take a look at some of the worst goalkeeper mistakes in history, and examine the causes and consequences.
If you are an amateur goalkeeper, you will be able to learn from those mistakes and avoid them during your next game.
Let’s get started.
Worst Goalkeepers Mistakes In History
Over the years, there have been many goalies that made mistakes in matches. But in this post, we will explore the 5 worst of them.
- Robert Grenn’s mistake during the 2010 World Cup quarterfinal.
- Doni’s mistake during a 2007 champion’s league game
- Claudio Bravo during a 2016 Premier League match
- Simon Mignolet’s mistake in a game between Liverpool and Arsenal in 2013
- Waldir Peres’s mistake in the 1982 World Cup final
1-Robert Green’s Mistake During the 2010 World Cup quarter-final
One of the most memorable goalkeeper mistakes took place during the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. In the quarter-finals, England faced Germany, and England goalkeeper Robert Green made a costly mistake.
In the 40th minute, Green failed to properly handle a shot from German forward Miroslav Klose, letting the ball slip through his fingers and into the net.
The goal proved to be crucial, as Germany went on to win the match 4-1 and knock England out of the tournament.
What you can learn from it is to not try to always catch the ball. If the shot is too powerful, better punch it away. Better concede a corner kick than a goal.
You can also read soccer goalkeeper tips for beginners.
2-Doni’s Mistake During The 2007 Champions League Match
Another infamous goalkeeper mistake took place during a Champions League match between AS Roma and Manchester United in 2007.
In the 85th minute, with the score tied at 1-1, Roma goalkeeper Doni received a back pass from a teammate. As he was about to clear the ball, he was charged down by Wayne Rooney, who managed to deflect the ball into the net.
The goal proved to be the winner, as Manchester United went on to win 2-1.
Doni’s mistake was a result of a lack of awareness. He had not noticed Rooney charging towards him and was therefore caught off guard when the Manchester United striker made his move. As a result, he was unable to properly clear the ball and ended up conceding a costly goal.
3-Claudio Bravo’s Mistake During 2016 Premier League Match
In a 2016 Premier League game between Man City and Man United, Claudio Bravo made a similar mistake as Doni.
In the 72nd minute, with the score tied at 0-0, Bravo received a back pass from a teammate. As he was about to clear the ball, he was charged down by Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who managed to deflect the ball into the net. Manchester United went on to win the match 1-0.
Once again, a lack of awareness.
4-Simon Mignolet’s Mistake During the 2013 Game Between Liverpool And Arsenal
One of the most comical goalkeeper mistakes took place during a match between Liverpool and Arsenal in 2013.
In the 53rd minute, with the score tied at 0-0, Liverpool goalkeeper Simon Mignolet received a back pass from a teammate. Apparently, those mistakes seem to always come from a backpass from a teammate.
As he was about to clear the ball, he was charged down by Arsenal’s striker Olivier Giroud, who managed to deflect the ball into the net. Arsenal ended up winning the match 2-0.
Mignolet’s mistake was a result of a lack of awareness and poor decision-making.
5-Waldir Peres’s Mistake During the 1982 World Cup Final
During the 1982 World Cup final between Brazil and Italy, Brazil’s goalie, Waldir Peres, made a costly mistake that ultimately cost his team the match.
In effect, in the 66th minute, with the score tied at 1-1, Peres received a back pass from a teammate. As he was about to clear the ball, he was charged down by Italy’s Marco Tardelli, who managed to deflect the ball into the net. Just like the previous mistakes listed above, the team that made the mistake ended up losing the game.
The mistake was particularly costly for Brazil, as it came in the final match of the World Cup and ultimately cost them the trophy.
It was a harsh lesson for Peres and the Brazilian team, highlighting the importance of staying focused and composed in pressure-filled situations.
Overall, the mistake by Peres is remembered as one of the worst goalkeeper mistakes in the history of the World Cup.
Final Thoughts
The main thing all those goalies have in common is they tend to panic whenever an opposing player is pressing them down.
The lack of awareness and poor decision-making has made goalkeepers concede a lot of goals not only in professional games but also in amateur ones.
So, it is important to stay focused and composed in any situation.
Hope you have gained value from this article.
