England have already chosen the first five players that would step up in an inevitable World Cup penalty shootout.
England have lost six of their last seven major championship shootouts, with their only success coming against Spain at Euro 96.
They were knocked out of that competition at the semi-final stage by Germany, and have since struggled to overcome their demons from the spot.
But Gareth Southgate, who missed in that defeat to Germany, has led a “forensic-style scientific study” into how England can conquer any potential shootout at the World Cup.
England play Colombia in the last 16, and could face a tie against Sweden or Switzerland in the quarter-finals.
According to the Sunday Mirror, Southgate has already chosen the five players he would wish to start a shootout if the case arises.
Harry Kane would step up first, followed by club teammate Kieran Trippier and Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson.
Jamie Vardy would go fourth in the unlikely event that he is on the pitch, while Dele Alli would go fifth.
“We’ve got a research team on it to come back with some interesting findings,” FA technical director Dan Ashworth said.
“Gareth would joke that he’s hardly the man to lead it. But actually he is. He’s very insightful and very detailed in his thought processes.
“When the whistle goes, you’ve got a couple of minutes to prepare, so how do you do that? Where do you do that on the pitch? Who’s involved? Where do you stand as a team during the shoot-out? From where do you begin the walk?
“Then, when the whistle goes. There’s been a little bit of research done to show that English players are quick to the ball when the whistle goes.
“When the referee’s whistle goes, you’ve got as long as you want to take the penalty. As a nation over the years, we’ve been a bit quick. You look at the other nations, they take a bit more time. There are some interesting patterns.”
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