‘Folks stated I used to be unsporting within the 1984 European Cup Closing – my logic was if a world participant can’t hit the goal from 12 yards, it’s not my fault’: Liverpool hero Bruce Grobbelaar justifies penalty ways towards Roma

January 11, 2025

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Liverpool hero Bruce Grobbelaar has defended his actions from the penalty shootout of the 1984 European Cup, during which he carried out his well-known ‘spaghetti legs’.

With the 1984 remaining 1-1 after extra-time between Liverpool and Roma, Grobbelaar knew that he wanted to step up for his workforce in the event that they had been to finish a treble that season, having already received the league title and League Cup.

The Zimbabwean goalkeeper’s process turned all of the tougher when his team-mate, Steve Nicol, stepped up first within the shootout and missed. With the Reds at an obstacle, Grobbelaar remembers what supervisor Joe Fagan stated to him earlier than the penalties began.

Liverpool helped out by Bruce Grobbelaar and his ‘spaghetti legs’

Bruce Grobbelaar penalty 1984 European Cup

Grobbelaar watches a Roma penalty sail over the bar

“[Assistant] Ronnie Moran’s phrases to me had been, ‘Don’t change your self as an individual, by no means emulate anyone else as a goalkeeper. Be your self’. We actually ought to have received that European Cup remaining in further time, however couldn’t take our probabilities,” Grobbelaar tells FourFourTwo.

“Simply earlier than the penalties, [boss] Joe Fagan stated, ‘Hear, we shouldn’t be on this place, no person will blame you’. As I walked away, he advised me to attempt to put them off. I picked out two gamers – Italy stars Bruno Conti and Francesco Graziani.

30 May 1984: Pruzzo (second right) #5 of A S Roma beats Bruce Grobbelaar (second left) Liverpool's goalkeeper to score during the European Cup Final at the Olympic Stadium in Rome. The match ended in a 1-1 draw but Liverpool won 4-2 on penalties. Mandatory Credit: David Cannon/Allsport

Grobbelaar in purpose for the European Cup remaining (Picture credit score: Getty Pictures)

“Folks stated it was unsporting, however my logic was if a world participant can’t hit the goal from 12 yards, it’s not my fault.”

Each Conti and Graziani missed within the shootout, with Grobbelaar’s ‘spaghetti legs’ placing the Italian duo off. After Nicol had missed first, the Reds now had the benefit, with fith taker Alan Kennedy figuring out {that a} purpose would hand Liverpool their fourth European Cup.

The left-back duly dispatched his spot kick, serving to Liverpool beat Roma in their very own stadium.

However whereas Grobbelar confronted some accusations of unsporting behaviour after his antics within the shootout, FourFourTwo believes that he had each proper to do what he did and postpone his opponents.

‘Folks stated I used to be unsporting within the 1984 European Cup Closing – my logic was if a world participant can’t hit the goal from 12 yards, it’s not my fault’: Liverpool hero Bruce Grobbelaar justifies penalty ways towards Roma

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