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Liverpool goalkeeper Bruce Grobbelaar tried everything in his power to put off the Roma penalty takers in 1984 during the European Cup final

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Liverpool hero Bruce Grobbelaar has defended his actions from the penalty shootout of the 1984 European Cup, in which he performed his famous 'spaghetti legs'. With the 1984 final 1-1 after extra-time between Liverpool and Roma, Grobbelaar knew that he needed to step up for his team if they were to complete a treble that season, having already won the league title and League Cup. The Zimbabwean goalkeeper's task became all the more difficult when his team-mate, Steve Nicol, stepped up first in the shootout and missed. With the Reds at a disadvantage, Grobbelaar recalls what manager Joe Fagan said to him before the penalties started. “[Assistant] Ronnie Moran’s words to me were, ‘Do not change yourself as a person, never emulate anybody else as a goalkeeper. Be yourself’. We really should have won that European Cup final in extra time, but couldn’t take our chances, " Grobbelaar tells Four Four Two. "Just before the penalties, [boss] Joe Fagan said, ‘Listen, we shouldn’t be in this position, nobody will blame you’. As I walked away, he told me to try to put them off. I picked out two players – Italy stars Bruno Conti and Francesco Graziani. "People said it was unsporting, but my logic was if an international player can’t hit the target from 12 yards, it’s not my fault. ” Both Conti and Graziani missed in the shootout, with Grobbelaar's 'spaghetti legs' putting the Italian duo off. After Nicol had missed first, the Reds now had the advantage, with fith taker Alan Kennedy knowing that a goal would hand Liverpool their fourth European Cup. The best features, fun and footballing quizzes, straight to your inbox every week. The left-back duly dispatched his spot kick, helping Liverpool beat Roma in their own stadium. But while Grobbelar faced some accusations of unsporting behaviour after his antics in the shootout, Four Four Two believes that he had every right to do what he did and put off his opponents. Ryan is a staff writer for Four Four Two, joining the team full-time in October 2022. He first joined Future in December 2020, working across Four Four Two, Golf Monthly, Rugby World and Advnture's websites, before eventually earning himself a position with Four Four Two permanently. After graduating from Cardiff University with a degree in Journalism and Communications, Ryan earned a NCTJ qualification to further develop as a writer while a Trainee News Writer at Future.   Jack Grealish is struggling at Manchester City and it’s time for both parties to cut their losses ‘It doesn’t work with Diogo Dalot at wing-back for Manchester United – I’d love to see them bring in Alphonso Davies to play there’ Former Red Devils defender identifies a potential signing that could strengthen Ruben Amorim’s side ‘I had it in my contract when I joined Barcelona from Spurs that I’d wear the No. 8 shirt – Bernd Schuster said no, so I took Diego Maradona’s No. 10 instead’: Scotland hero recalls replacing Argentinian legend at Barca in 1984 Four Four Two is part of Future plc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site. ©

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