With the 2022 World Cup, it looks like we are witnessing a turning point in how penalty shoot-outs are shown on TV. For both Japan-Croatia and Spain-Morocco, the PKs were shown from the skycam positioned behind the kicker looking straight down at the goal ('back view"). Compared to the traditional "side view," I would argue that the result is an unsettling lack of perspective and depth for the viewer, where the distance between the penalty spot and the goal line is completely abolished. The only justification I can see for this is an absurd perceived return-on-investment logic: "We paid millions for the skycam tech, so it's like we're wasting money if we're not using it for PKs." If you don't know what I'm referring to, compare the 2018 Spain-Russia (A) and the 2022 Spain-Morocco (B) shoot-outs. (A - Side view) (PKs start at 9:40) (B - Back view) (PKs start at 3:40) As much as I'm not a fan (and that's putting it mildly) of the new angle, I'm wondering whether some soccer fans might feel differently. If so, why? I'm as interested in people's justification for their choice as in the result of the poll.
Love the "back view". The traditional view took away the most important perspective - width. Shots that seemed perfectly placed on the side view (only because the goalkeeper went the wrong way) were revealed to be less than perfect on 'back view ' replays. The back view also gives you a true perspective how close a goalkeeper may have come to saving a penalty. I really hope this perspective does become the norm. SA
Agree with SA on width>depth. We always know what the depth is - it's the fixed space between the penalty spot and the goal line. But with width we don't get to really see that well how close the keeper was to saving the shot or where the kick was actually going.
MLS has been doing the second camera angle for years now so I am not that disturbed by it. But I can see how others could be.
MLB has been plagued by this issue for years. If the camera is directly behind center field, it's hard to judge the pitch on the X-axis. But if the camera is directly above the batter, it's hard to judge on the Y-axis. ISTM that the *best* angle for spot kicks might either be somewhere above/behind the keeper (such as from the stands) or directly above the goal...so that if the ball goes in the goal, it could be seen via a bulge in the net.
Bumping this thread after I stumbled upon the France-Brazil PK shoot-out at the 1986 World Cup. IMO, perfect way to show the action and a good compromise between the two options I listed in the poll. A traditional "from the side" angle for the live PK, followed by two "back view" replays: one from behind the goalie, one from behind the kicker. Simple and efficient--and done properly, as it was then, still plenty of time to show live action between shots (for ex. Socrates's walk back towards his teammates after his miss or Platini kissing the ball before his). Masterful. Forget about skycams and all the modern technology. Someone had it all figured out more than 35 years ago!
I think I've seen the behind-the-GK angle a couple of times, but not sure. Wouldn't the netting obscure one's view somewhat? You can raise the camera angle such that the netting is not in the line of sight but then it will be difficult to judge the height of the shot. I am quite happy with the behind-the-shooter angle.