What's Decided In The Top Leagues: Titles, Cup Finals, UCL, Relegation
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)
0cd0f9880b1e93f8b5e4b512666b512e Half Up Hairstyle 16 Perfect Long Bob Hairstyles Easy Lob Haircuts 1 1 B99bda61b368d883f74092b18b7b7626 4d7685cca9ed9524d1e8aa2dbf21d690 A26ed4f5e642b41d06e1904466c35b26 Kim Kardashian 2023 Hairstyles Fb 2f6f9654981ddd0846ce3eec503eb84c 71ac66ea8e7f17f2a85c5a072bdf62f4 832582e55bfe2ac0d11bfa399983d651 Fun And Easy Hairstyles For Long Hair 8 19a66f1d05fa1cd1c62ad028a86bb5b3 74e31904c7dfd71d602c15f7549acc94 52c23bcea9f58f1d972f0c7be5f8a0f3 894acb5657658b9821d79d76ad83c8a2 9da66c57b1feef734145984579554fb5 707b5b36b356f2fdeea28f93b2d1679e 64ff7b193d5f07f110e686ee3a7dddd9 028A3573 AC8A 42A8 B9D2 D5A341EAC6BD Easy Long Hairstyles 2023 240x300 Fun Hairstyles For Long Hair 68 2 5d13141aaff7a9a4e7f8854da394bdcb Extra Longs Cheveux Tendance De Coiffure 2020 Coupe De Cheveux Long Femme Balayage Cheveux Lisses 301757f813ba81bc689468c4f77b5e7f 5aaeb4f79b83083af230343f7ae9101f Short Curly Hairstyles 2024 58ccff1017dbecef04df21a20accfc5c 8721aeb19867a4ba1f7264b29907f617 New Haircuts Stylish Mens Haircuts E99467a8c9babed866680d3c3e9f701f 64e978f833eefe0d79cd7e99f7de8218.webpAac43f90e923b161d3d47be6fb01fd4e Medium Layered Hairstyles 2024 Butterfly Haircut With Curtain Bangs.webpMaxresdefault Cc3fa43297bdad5d4dbaa7203a604650