1. The European Cup is a significant international football tournament. If the teams are unable to determine a winner within the standard 90 minutes of play, the match extends into extra time.
2. Extra time consists of two 15-minute halves. If a goal is scored during this period, the match concludes with the scoring team as the winner.
3. Should both teams remain scoreless after extra time, the match progresses to a penalty shootout. This is a series of penalty kicks alternated between the teams until a winner is determined.
4. If the score is still tied after the first five rounds of penalties, the match enters the "golden goal" phase, where each subsequent penalty kick can end the match instantly.
5. The penalty shootout is not only a test of a player's kicking ability but also a severe trial of their mental fortitude. Throughout history, the European Cup has seen numerous classic moments decided by penalty shootouts.
6. For instance, in the 2000 European Cup semi-finals, Italy and the Netherlands played to a 0-0 draw after both regulation time and extra time, eventually with Italy advancing to the final via a penalty shootout.
7. As a deciding mechanism in high-level football tournaments such as the European Cup, the penalty shootout not only heightens the suspense and spectacle of the matches but also fully displays the allure of football.
