Mbappé Lauds 'unique' Ronaldo Ahead Of QF Clash
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)
1ab24c23f4deb7539d9562933ac1ae1b 529129267d29c0a47a55fd9d429ef27a Af75aebb73ddf5d3cf29b0baaa8bc5b4 E6dd97e51f9c60a5a995e461746a6eb8 81bbceacde75e6b2033e80ed81c04a29 E9d8009bec29aa439ea0bfda4d97cc05 1d316894f2c6979556793bf1af1f6161 F334505ac36d938a90bc632bf6a1fae4 TidySquares Classic White Wood 93 X 84.25 Corner Walk In Closet Organizer 19d90317 A6fc 4c57 9264 5977d0eeb617 600 Corner Closet Shelf Unit 2f894cc3ba7a9eae1c062aaa6deabae7 Bestar Versatile 36 Corner Closet Organizer White 7f6799c8a06381bb61ede5b23f78edd5 Bbf78b3e04d4befa0ea78ea8f5e7ad7b Db69aa0febd04da4fe22ee12aae92f5b D3d28798061d7b12ff0791aad0f896c3 Girl Closet The Closet 6cbc1db64e4838095d27c415e9af2a25 10474833 44c4e32b8b6abe485261d5362251c6f5 CS7 AO L 2280x600h 7856a61be5ceb8f1b496a5ee2ae596b5 Corner Closet Diy Closet Diy Organizing ?size=634x922&nocrop=174d9d8df4f0dc0a2888b63398a1ba6c7 C6b5c6a9 B860 421a 9f9b 70b8b161a480 1.bff1e1b5517934f4767382364bdef3bd ?odnHeight=450&odnWidth=450&odnBg=ffffffAc41a920d66dd58039a0d02bc2a58465 26165 17 Bestar Pur 33w Corner Closet Organizer In White 3 Modubox Closet Organizer White Versatile U Shaped Walk In Closet Organizer In White 29013567111230 747x700 ?v=1641199551C6b5c6a9 B860 421a 9f9b 70b8b161a480 1.bff1e1b5517934f4767382364bdef3bd ?odnWidth=612&odnHeight=612&odnBg=ffffffGrid 65" W 113" W Adjustable Corner Closet System 907db578c89e7e39084c1403f08dc765 Versatile 36W Corner Closet Organizer By Bestar ?imwidth=25693e7c3b9262e61ee7cf4dd0edb180600 E61ddb41926b565087799c0371f062f5 4e81189a02799352 6219 W358 H358 B1 P0 Transitional Closet
Mbappé Lauds 'unique' Ronaldo Ahead Of QF Clash
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)
