Dango Ouattara's missed panenka proved costly as Brentford lost at West Ham in the FA Cup. It is a moment Brentford's Dango Ouattara will want to forget. While West Ham are celebrating their place in the FA Cup quarter-finals, Ouattara will be regretting his costly decision to try a Panenka in Monday night's tense penalty shootout after a 2-2 draw. His weak, dinked effort was simply caught by Hammers goalkeeper Alphonse Areola for the only missed spot-kick as Brentford's dreams of a first major cup final vanished for another season.

Igor Thiago twice cancelled out Jarrod Bowen goals in normal time, but, fielding a strong side, Brentford ultimately lost out to a much-changed West Ham. Bees boss Keith Andrews was quick to defend the 24-year-old forward, though. He said: "No, I'm not annoyed at all. When you miss a penalty it is a tough moment, but it is easier to not take a penalty than take a penalty. It takes serious courage to do that. He practises that technique a lot, if it goes in everyone's raving about him. We've had it in the past when people have been persecuted and ridiculed for missing a penalty on the biggest stage and that's ridiculous. He will have the utmost support from me and everyone around."

Former West Ham forward Joe Cole told TNT: "He [Dango Ouattara] looked so confident, he took his time and looked in complete control and he did that - it's unexplainable. He was outstanding, really good, but that does not matter when you miss a penalty in a shootout. You don't want to chastise the lad - I hope he doesn't do it again in his career." Ex-Tottenham midfielder Glenn Hoddle added: "He took so long. I think he had a thousand thoughts going through his mind and when you're like that as a taker you miss. The young lad will absolutely regret trying the Panenka at that time."

The Panenka takes its name from Antonin Panenka, who famously chipped his penalty down the middle to win the 1976 European Championship for Czechoslovakia. The game against reigning champions West Germany had ended 2-2 after extra time in Yugoslavia, with a penalty shootout to decide the winner. When Uli Hoeness smashed his spot-kick over the bar, Czech midfielder Panenka had the chance to win for the underdogs. After a quick run-up, Panenka floated a delicate chip down the middle to befuddle goalkeeper Sepp Maier and win the trophy for Czechoslovakia.

In the 50 years since Panenka brought the dinked penalty to prominence, it has gradually become more common. A number of top players, including Lionel Messi, Thierry Henry, and Francesco Totti, have successfully used the technique from the spot. France legend Zinedine Zidane has a claim for taking the most high-pressure Panenka, in the 2006 World Cup final with his penalty hitting the underside of the crossbar and just crossing the line. It's probably not what he is most remembered for that night, though.

England have suffered at the hands of the Panenka a couple of times in shootouts, most famously when Italy midfielder Andrea Pirlo nonchalantly beat Joe Hart to change the momentum of the shootout in the Euro 2012 quarter-final. Similarly in the 2022 EFL Cup final, with Chelsea keeper Kepa Arrizabalaga making a show of trying to distract the Liverpool players, Fabinho responded by calmly dinking his kick down the middle, much to the delight of the Reds fans behind the goal.

But for all the notable successes, Ouattara is not the first high-profile miss. In 1992, Gary Lineker had the chance to match Sir Bobby Charlton's 49 goals for England in a friendly against Brazil but fluffed his attempted Panenka and ended up one shy of the then-record. Manchester City striker Sergio Aguero was usually pretty reliable from the spot but was made to look foolish when he attempted a Panenka in May 2021 as Chelsea went on to win 2-1 after the penalty save from Edouard Mendy. In January, Brahim Diaz attempted a Panenka to win the Africa Cup of Nations in stoppage time for Morocco. His effort was saved and Senegal emerged champions.