With a major international tournament underway, it seemed the perfect time to delve deep into a topic that will feature heavily in the coming weeks.

To many, penalty kicks are merely a lottery. To Ignacio Palacios-Huerta, such a theory is foolhardy. And he has the years of research to prove it. A highly-regarded professor at the London School of Economics, Palacios-Huerta is also a penalty oracle and an academic revolutionary. Having studiously devoted years of his life to crunching the data, he has found many patterns to spot kicks and how both the taker and goalkeeper react to such a high-pressured situation.

He discusses his work with elite clubs and national teams (an infamous 2008 Champions League final and the 2010 World Cup final), why Manchester United's ignorance regarding penalty strategy cost them dearly in the Europa League decider against Villarreal and his incredible analytical find ahead of the recent Championship play-off between Brentford and Swansea City at Wembley.

In a thoroughly fascinating conversation, he takes Niko on a journey from Russell Crowe to predicted behaviours via game theory and Nobel Prize winners.

You won't watch a penalty kick the same way ever again!

The Last Line, in association with Evangelista Sports, is hosted by Niko Giantsopoulos and produced by York United Football Club of the Canadian Premier League.

In the late-1990s, Jimmy Nielsen was at the top of his game.

A Danish championship winner with Aalborg BK, he was also voted as his country's best goalkeeper at a time when compatriot Peter Schmeichel was widely considered the best in the world. In his early twenties, it seemed Nielsen could do no wrong.

But, he was living a double life. As success snowballed on the field, a gambling addiction was rapidly taking control off it. One evening, he raked in half a million dollars sitting at a casino table. 24 hours later, he'd lost most of it. He chats to Niko about how it started, reaching rock bottom and the long way back.

In a wide-ranging, eye-opening and fascinating conversation, Jimmy also talks about what made Schmeichel so good, the kindness of Kasey Keller, showering with David Beckham and why his four spectacular years in Kansas City mean so much to him.

The Last Line, in association with Evangelista Sports, is hosted by Niko Giantsopoulos and produced by York United Football Club of the Canadian Premier League.

Gary Bailey is a Manchester United legend.

As a long-time number one at the club, he was a two-time FA Cup winner in 1983 and 1985 and also a senior England international. But, with so much on the horizon, his career was devastatingly cut short by injury.

But, that's only a tiny part of a fascinating story. He chats to Niko about growing up in South Africa during apartheid, serving as hero and villain in separate Wembley deciders and how difficult it was to feel accepted by his United team-mates upon joining.

There's in-depth analysis of the evolution of goalkeeping while Gary delves into what made Sir Alex Ferguson such a 'genius'. Oh, and there's a memorable encounter with Margaret Thatcher in there too!

The Last Line, in association with Evangelista Sports, is hosted by Niko Giantsopoulos and produced by York United Football Club of the Canadian Premier League.