Last update images today Diamond Wedding Anniversary Gifts John Lewis
Butler Homers, Sears Pitches A's To Series Sweep Of Angels With 5-0 Win
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)
A1783d881b81097918208f00d8ed6a9d 8c2839cf 1927 4cb9 9fa7 61d37deb1968~rs 768.h Cr 138.0.963.8258d4eb14c Cf9d 4833 8e78 33cb6743b800~rs 768.h Cr 0.0.640.640Photo Silver Plate 6 Il 600x600.2068952757 Hk2y Diamond 2023 150x150 F3bbfd9f906c52e8af8f3a39f6e62951 Fa8af7f3 911e 43e4 A5e7 3ff582c5dbcc~rs 768.h Cr 133.0.933.800Il 600x600.4782044639 1zp0 B41196d0 Dd7a 454e 8799 0a4e8e671177~rs 768.h Cr 167.0.1169.10025d7636024d588462788f891ce8980a82 Iap 300x300.3060639769 48ar2cxb ?version=094182 Print Da967a83512fb2e220d83a511b748cf5 Wedding Diamond Anniversary Gifts For Couples In White Gold FD1144B NL WG 062ace66e4685b262e02299f936d28d6 7d0c0003e0eac88ecf87a7a932ff7c45 GSFxbjxSnbyjnUAPAS3PJ7 768 80 735x735 Fitbox Silver Anniversary Teapot A Il 600x600.4950406588 Ri6e BRIDES Best 25th Anniversary Gifts 5120841 B524646ba1004ea3bc3e0a758c594173 959d093c1b0cdc8ca39352ddb87b1755 Il 500x500.2919273068 Quxp 4ec7bbb110b64cf744b6fb4d1e6c19ff 3f26967563dd3686702e94d73028926c 3f91759c 2068 4364 A790 Bd52ef750948~rs 768.h Cr 438.0.2425.198761qlqbm2izL. UF1000,1000 QL80 6aeac997571cf22136efc4665c4b024b 586b4ccc4d747ca7260317baade4d65c 02b5e3b7ddbcd58bb64d473b6e7beeb1 Wedding Anniversary Gifts By Year 23 696x696 81R6WAXEcwS. AC UL640 QL65 Engraved Silver Anniversary Plate 500x390 Sparkling Gifts For A Diamond Wedding Anniversary Copy 5057d9b74a453e2160c67883ae9b6f63