Can the S‐S problem‐solving method help to win the World Cup?

Although in practice it is commonly found that there are several antecedents relevant to a particular problem, only one specific event represents its real cause. Analysis of the potential causes and the identification of the single cause that ultimately relates to the problem are the crux of problem solving. Attempts to develop a systematic procedure of problem solving, named the S‐S problem‐solving method, and to apply the method to the problem of the penalty shoot‐out ‐ a decisive stage in cup competition football matches. In the World Cup 1990 semi‐finals, England lost to West Germany in a penalty shoot‐out. In an attempt to find the possible reasons for defeat by using the S‐S problem‐solving method, identifies one real cause of the problem. Two examples illustrate the significance of the method in finding the real cause of a problem.