The difficulty of scoring in a shootout was on display when Brazil eliminated Chile after Gonzalo Jara hit the post with his final penalty kick. Just 12 yards from the goal, the penalty kick is the only formal one-on-one challenge in soccer. Here, Kasey Keller, a former U.S. national team goalkeeper, walks us through the psychology of four memorable World Cup standoffs.

KELLER SAYS Even if the keeper makes the right decision, at that distance, if a player strikes the ball hard and strikes it somewhere that you’re not, you’re not going to make the save.

Cavallero leans slightly to his own right, but stays planted in the middle.

England lost to Argentina on penalties in 1998, after David Beckham earned a red card, keeping him out of the shootout. When England earns a penalty kick in a 2002 rematch, Beckham has the opportunity to avenge his team’s loss.

KELLER SAYS Even if the keeper makes the right decision, at that distance, if a player strikes the ball hard and strikes it somewhere that you’re not, you’re not going to make the save.

Cavallero leans slightly to his own right, but stays planted in the middle.

England lost to Argentina on penalties in 1998, after David Beckham earned a red card, keeping him out of the shootout. When England earns a penalty kick in a 2002 rematch, Beckham has the opportunity to avenge his team’s loss.

KELLER SAYS A common mistake. The kicker’s idea is to hit it hard. At such a short distance, all he has to do is miss the goalkeeper, and it’s going to go in. But in going for power, he leaves himself open to putting the ball over the top.

He leans back too far and sends it over the net.

and at the last second moves forward...

Baggio , who delivered with precision throughout the tournament, confidently begins his run-up with his head down.

More than 94,000 fans pack the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Calif., to see which soccer superpower will be the first to win four World Cup titles. With the final game scoreless and Brazil leading in penalties, Italy’s only hope is striker Roberto Baggio.

KELLER SAYS A common mistake. The kicker’s idea is to hit it hard. At such a short distance, all he has to do is miss the goalkeeper, and it’s going to go in. But in going for power, he leaves himself open to putting the ball over the top.

He leans back too far and sends it over the net.

and at the last second moves forward...

Baggio , who delivered with precision throughout the tournament, confidently begins his run-up with his head down. He keeps his focus on the ball, a signal that he has committed to a direction.

More than 94,000 fans pack the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Calif., to see which soccer superpower will be the first to win four World Cup titles. With the final game scoreless and Brazil leading in penalties, Italy’s only hope is striker Roberto Baggio.

KELLER SAYS Casillas waited him out. In the end it was a pretty easy save. He waited to move until Cardozo didn’t have time to change his mind.

Cardozo seems nervous as he prepares to take the kick.

Paraguay’s surprising run in the World Cup is challenged by heavily favored Spain. After a scoreless first half, Paraguay has the opportunity to take the lead with a penalty kick.

KELLER SAYS Casillas waited him out. In the end it was a pretty easy save. He waited to move until Cardozo didn’t have time to change his mind.

Cardozo seems nervous as he prepares to take the kick.

Paraguay’s surprising run in the World Cup is challenged by heavily favored Spain. After a scoreless first half, Paraguay has the opportunity to take the lead with a penalty kick.

Sometimes as a goalkeeper you get lucky. You guess the wrong way and the player misses. He stands, he goes right, he goes left — it doesn’t matter. It’s off the crossbar, and it’s not going to go in.

KELLER SAYS By attempting to place the ball to the right and high out of Buffon’s reach, Trezeguet makes the shot much more difficult, requiring more precision than if he had shot it as originally intended.

Trezeguet sees this, and at the last second tries to go to Buffon’s right.

Buffon , having played with Trezeguet for Juventus, may know if he generally prefers to go right or left.

Trezeguet , who scored the “golden goal” against Italy in the Euro 2000 final, stalls with a series of stutter-steps, waiting for Buffon to commit.

In the 110th minute of extra time, France’s Zinedine Zidane head-butts Marco Materazzi in the chest and is ejected from the game. After 120 minutes of play, the score is still tied, 1-1, and a penalty shootout follows.

Sometimes as a goalkeeper you get lucky. You guess the wrong way and the player misses. He stands, he goes right, he goes left — it doesn’t matter. It’s off the crossbar, and it’s not going to go in.

KELLER SAYS By attempting to place the ball to the right and high out of Buffon’s reach, Trezeguet makes the shot much more difficult, requiring more precision than if he had shot it as originally intended.

Trezeguet sees this, and at the last second tries to go to Buffon’s right.

Buffon , having played with Trezeguet for Juventus, may know if he generally prefers to go right or left.

Trezeguet , who scored the “golden goal” against Italy in the Euro 2000 final, stalls with a series of stutter-steps, waiting for Buffon to commit.

In the 110th minute of extra time, France’s Zinedine Zidane head-butts Marco Materazzi in the chest and is ejected from the game. After 120 minutes of play, the score is still tied, 1-1, and a penalty shootout follows.

2006 final France vs. Italy France’s Zinedine Zidane head-butts Marco Materazzi in the chest and is ejected from the game in extra time. With the score still tied, 1-1, after 120 minutes of play, a penalty shootout follows. DAVID TREZEGUET FRANCE GIANLUIGI BUFFON ITALY Trezeguet stalls with a series of stutter-steps. Buffon played with Trezeguet on Juventis and may know if he prefers to go right or left. BUFFON Buffon waits and then goes left. Trezeguet responds. At the last moment, he tries to go to Buffon's right. He hits the ball too high, off the crossbar, and misses, ultimately costing France the title. TREZEGUET Keller Says By attempting to place the ball to the right and high out of Buffon’s reach, Trezeguet makes the shot much more difficult, requiring more precision than if he had shot it as originally intended. Sometimes as a goalkeeper you get lucky.

2010 quarterfinals Paraguay vs. Spain Paraguay’s surprising run in the World Cup is challenged by heavily favored Spain. After a scoreless first half, Paraguay has the opportunity to take the lead with a penalty kick. ÓSCAR CARDOZO PARAGUAY iker casillas SPAIN Casillas waits to read Cardozo’s body language and angle of approach. Cardozo seems nervous as he prepares to take the kick. His anxiety seems to increase the longer he waits to take the shot. cardozo Casillas makes the save. He smothers the ball, dashing any hope of a rebound. casillas Keller Says Casillas waited him out. In the end it was a pretty easy save. He waited to move until Cardozo didn’t have time to change his mind.

1994 final Italy vs. Brazil Which soccer superpower would be the first to win four World Cup titles? With the final game scoreless and Brazil leading in penalties, Italy’s only hope is striker Roberto Baggio. ROBERTO BAGGIO ITALY CLÁUDIO TAFFAREL BRAZIL Baggio, who delivered with precision throughout the tournament, confidently begins his run-up with his head down, keeping his focus on the ball, a signal that he has committed to a direction. TAFFAREL Taffarel waits and waits. At the last second, he moves forward before going left. Baggio attempts to strike the ball down the middle, but he leans back too far and sends it over the net. BAGGIO Keller Says A common mistake. The kicker’s idea is to hit this hard. At such a short distance, if he just misses the goalkeeper, it’s going to go in. But in going for power, he leaves himself open to putting the ball over the top.