Penalty king Panenka in serious condition at Czech hospital

Iconic Czech footballer Antonin Panenka is in intensive care at a hospital and has also tested positive for the coronavirus.

Antonin Panenka's infamous penalty during the 1976 European Championship final saw the Czechoslovak national team win its first and only international title.

Czech footballer Antonin Panenka, whose cheeky winning penalty technique against Germany in the 1976 European Championship has been copied by some of the game's greatest players, is in intensive care at a hospital, his former club said on Wednesday.

The club, Bohemians 1905, also confirmed that Panenka had tested positive for the coronavirus.

Panenka, 71, led the Czechoslovak national team to its only international title after he lofted the decisive penalty past a surprised and sprawling German goalkeeper Sepp Maier in the shoot-out of the final.

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The shot -- now called a Panenka -- is a simple technique in which the player gently chips the ball down the centre of the goal assuming the keeper will dive to the right or left.

“Antonin Panenka was taken to an intensive care unit today, in a serious condition. We will not comment more on his state. Tonda, let's go!” Bohemians 1905 club said on Twitter .

Antonín Panenka was taken to the ICU hospital today in a serious condition, where he is connected to the devices. There is no comment on his condition yet. Fight, Tondo, fight! Thinking of you, Tondo! https://t.co/J1HEbDJ14f

— Bohemians 1905 Eng (@bohemians1905GB) October 7, 2020

 

Many of the world's greatest players have attempted Panenkas in big matches. France's Zinedine Zidane gave France a 1-0 lead over Italy in the 2006 World Cup final with the shot while Andrea Pirlo netted one for Italy against England in Euro 2012.