Boulter, Draper Knocked Out Of Wimbledon
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)
Usf Graduation Hero Maxresdefault Maxresdefault USP Graduation 2023 768x408 ?media Id=10158692782812393Page 1 Vanuatu Graduates 1 1 23 04 Usnewsbestgradranking2023 Fulbright Scholars 2023 2024 News Articles 7 18 2023 834ed5e2 4e93 4379 8f8d 217682dc4c4d Graduate School ?crop=4287,2412,x0,y212&width=3200&height=1801&format=pjpg&auto=webpMaxresdefault WhatsApp Image 2023 11 22 At 1.52.52 PM Page 1 105129497364250b52906aa93b3ab1 Maxresdefault Live Family Maxresdefault Live GDCKY5YXUAAPe7v Page 1 52992448110 8bec805af7 B Maxresdefault 2022 05 20 OMC12172 Commencement JUL 3998 ?itok=BuGfKo QMaxresdefault ?sqp= OaymwEmCIAKENAF8quKqQMa8AEB AH CYAC0AWKAgwIABABGGUgZShlMA8=&rs=AOn4CLAigaEeTwpsMDLoCcQp4jPEqdixOwUFS Student ?itok=owdI3ULBUfs Student Registration 2024 ?sfvrsn=3ade3120 1USP Graduation 2022 1689156371 ZPage 2 University Of The Free State UFS Diploma And Degree Courses Offered 370x352 Page 1 20170505 USFH Commencement 54 1 DSC 5593 Viber Image 2023 05 17 09 48 17 4099 Graduates At The Niue Graduation Ceremony