World Cup penalty kicks in regulation are converted so often—81% of the time—that they are soccer's answer to football's extra points. But in a high-pressure penalty shootout, that number drops precipitously to 70%, according to Opta Sports.

Naturally, players try everything to throw their opponents off. But until Saturday, when the Netherlands eliminated Costa Rica, no one in World Cup history had tried Dutch coach Louis van Gaal's move: bringing on a goalkeeper specifically for the shootout.

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