Webb Enjoys More Atlanta Success As Giants Ride Chapman's Big Hits To 4-2 Win Over Braves
By Fernando Kallas
STUTTGART, Germany, July 4 (Reuters) - Mental preparation and plenty of practice are the most important factors in taking a penalty, Germany midfielder Ilkay Gundogan said as his team gear up for Friday's Euro 2024 quarter-final clash against Spain.
Both teams are heavy favourites and have provided some of the best football in the tournament so far and their clash could come down to a penalty shootout.
Gundogan, 33, said on Thursday that the pressure of taking a penalty is not something that can be replicated in training, but that it's still important to be mentally prepared.
"The key word for me is routine. When you step on to take a penalty, the pressure that exists in a game it's just different than it was in training and obviously to replicate is very, very difficult. I don't believe that you can replicate it in training," Gundogan told a press conference.
"You can train your routine. You can train how you want to approach a penalty. Your breathing, how you get calm... The most crucial thing is to get calm, how to get your heartbeat down.
"Just try to be cool and enjoy the moment of taking a penalty. Which is the most difficult thing because, otherwise anyone would score a penalty."
Gundogan is one of Germany's most experienced players and has taken almost 20 penalties in a successful career between clubs like Borussia Dortmund and Manchester City.
However, he believed anyone who stepped up to take a spot kick should be lauded for their bravery and that even some of the game's greatest players do not always score.
"Even the best takers in the world miss," Gundogan said.
"I automatically think about someone like Harry Kane who has a finishing that is unbelievable but I also remember him missing quite a few penalties.
"So it’s just the circumstances at the end of the day. I missed a lot of penalties in my career so far as well. At the end of the day you just try your best. Sometimes it gets rewarded and you can do it in a better way and sometimes not.
"I think to have the guts to step on, to take a penalty in crucial moments, to show respect for it, even when you miss because it is a situation that is extraordinary and it is very difficult to deal with." (Reporting by Fernando Kallas Editing by Christian Radnedge)
Can You Drive To Alaska Everything You Need To Know 16 Things To Know Before Driving To Alaska ALCAN Highway Americas Best Road Trips ?resize=1020%2C522&ssl=111e6952a6984b51fbcce5d5be70f9db3 Kb Can You Drive To Alaska 3 Can You Drive To Juneau Alaska .webp1000x667 Alaska Glacier Cruise 051622 Alaska Highway Near Muncho Lake GettyImages 945606898 When You Should Drive To Alaska Can You Drive To Alaska From The United States 1024x768 A9730e8617d85f5eae95d44298f4011e ?media Id=1021526615718912628077870235 556da20a40 O 1536x1036 55eea11565cdfcfdeea8c04569a02118 Can You Drive To Alaska From The United States Cover 1 1 KSocOP3d 1024x578 3f05ef48bdd95cdacfdbf99ec9e7e425 Maxresdefault Maxresdefault Sign Of Alaska When You Drive To Alaska 1166223 1024x577 Maxresdefault 51be7f2d47a3bcef00620d9654f0f040 71uFbRxNvGL. AC UF1000,1000 QL80 Driving In AlaskaSlice B Ship Margerie Glacier 1600 Maxresdefault IMG 20190614 141601 Scaled Alaska Fall 2020 18 1536x1024 Maxresdefault IMG 20190526 163355 1024x768 D04c2cbd7d92515a797896e831bf6d12 D02c2caeb74e11a04d86c7c02fd1fa23 Screenshot 2022 03 02 At 19.55.16