Antonín Panenka in critical condition in ICU
Antonín Panenka is hospitalized in the intensive care unit "in critical condition", as reported by the club of which he is honorary president, Bohemians Praha 1905. Through a statement on their website, the Czech club states that his health has worsened and that he is connected to machines to maintain his vital signs.
In addition, Bohemians Praha clarifies that they cannot comment on his clinical situation at this time and asks for respect from fans and media. Later, the club explained on social media that Panenka has COVID-19 and is in intensive care.
Clubs like Sparta Prague and the Czech national team have sent messages of support through social media. The former footballer, 71 years old, made history by inventing the penalty style that still bears his name to this day. He first did it in the final of the 1976 European Championship, during the penalty shootout between Czechoslovakia and West Germany.
Antonín Panenka byl dnes ve vážném stavu převezen na JIP do nemocnice, kde je připojen na přístrojích. Více jeho stav zatím nebudeme komentovat. Tondo, bojuj! -- pic.twitter.com/r49WtrxzoP
— Bohemians Praha 1905 (@bohemians1905) October 7, 2020
Panenka took the fifth and decisive penalty. If he scored, they would be crowned champions. Sepp Maier was in goal. At first, the German goalkeeper guessed his intentions and was about to dive to the right side. Then, the Czech legend changed his shot to give a historic victory to his national team.
"I had been practicing it for two years before. I simply realized that all goalkeepers always jumped to one side or the other, so it would be good to shoot it in the center," he said on one occasion. (D)