Norwich’s FA Cup hero Tim Krul had the Tottenham penalty takers and which way they would shoot written on his water bottle.
And the preparation paid off with the Dutchman saving spot-kicks from Troy Parrott and Gedson Fernandes as the Canaries progressed to the competition’s quarter-finals for the first time in 28 years on Wednesday.
Jan Vertonghen’s early goal looked to be enough to set Spurs up with a home tie against Manchester United or Derby, who clash on Thursday in the final fifth-round fixture LIVE on talkSPORT!
However, extra-time was needed as Michel Vorm, who was picked ahead of Paulo Gazzaniga to fill in for the injured Hugo Lloris, spilled a Kenny McLean shot which Josip Drmic tapped home 12 minutes from time.
And the tie was decided on penalties with Norwich claiming victory thanks to Krul’s heroics in north London.
It was not the first time the 31-year-old has stood tall after a penalty shootout, either.
Krul was an injury time in extra-time substitute for the Netherlands in their World Cup quarter-final penalty shootout win over Costa Rica in 2014.
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After replacing Jasper Cillessen in the dying seconds of the added 30 minutes, he saved two spot-kicks to book the Dutch their place in the semi-finals.
So Krul would have been confident facing penalties against Tottenham, and Parrott and Fernandes failed to beat him from 12 yards.
The goalkeeper’s water bottle had Davinson Sanchez, Giovani Lo Celso, Eric Dier, Fernandes, Parrott, Erik Lamela and Oliver Skipp’s names written on it with a prediction of where they would put their spot-kick.
After knocking Tottenham out of the FA Cup, Krul told the BBC: “Everyone says I am good at penalties so I knew I’d better start saving some.
“That’s what it’s all about, that’s why we do the work. When you have down times, this is what you think of.
“As a little boy you want to save penalties and get your club through. There are big emotions today.
“Me and my coach do our homework, I had them on my bottle, it all happens in a shootout.
“What a place to do it as well and for 9,000 fans to be here on a Wednesday night.”
