Montas Makes Triumphant Return To New York As Reds Beat Yankees 8-4 To Complete 3-game Sweep
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)
Winnipeg Christmas Lights 1ffdc363be55a10fae4b0e88ae70832f Maxresdefault Christmas Lights Toronto Title 1200 X 680px181 1 London Christmas Lights F374279cfda21559315c39cc1c7ae32d V2 A19e6711d3bb8541793f4040a4538fb3 B Maxresdefault JMEXSUSS Christmas Lights 1024x1024 Untitled Design 16 53306805467 1a1e59afd1 B Christmas Lights Middlesex Court 69826ee080bf2ad72dbb3e09acd25d88 ?p=w1228Marina Bay Sands Christmas Lights Orchard Road Christmas Light Up Cover 2aa098e63a489cdaabc08d4f2b134b64 See Northern Lights In The Uk 3739812 ?r=1636050795212Maxresdefault San Joses Christmas Light Displays A Guide For 2023 Asian Story Ig June 2024 Lunar Calendar Moon Cycles Moon Phases 2K6EB5Y Hqdefault 10 Must See Christmas Light Displays 2023 2 960652356f8b9f1ac46d3b9f8b09bc16 2a297901 0312 4c70 B934 37857db9e2f4 D2fcd51ffa91876001b3dca8aef6b46b 1024x768 10 Must See Christmas Light Displays 2023 3 D9 YN5Q6774 XA 10 Must See Christmas Light Displays 2023 1 Christmas Lights 112322033 AdobeStock 431716434 Christmas Lights 11232203 San Joses Christmas Light Displays A Guide For 2023 3
Montas Makes Triumphant Return To New York As Reds Beat Yankees 8-4 To Complete 3-game Sweep
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)
