Last update images today Irving Street Library Hours
Djokovic Digs For Win Vs. Wild Card; Hurkacz Exits
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)
902 Irving Street NE 49525021188 E1ca26bbd9 B O P75RSM5FABFOXENVJ5LOZ25NWY 1 Scaled O West Irving Library Irving TX 2 1 Tile Pic South Irving Library 1 Re F95F0262 0C52 135A 8B14857EDF77F592 Hqdefault S. Irving 043 C7ab6d65 B65d 44ec 8208 30dc9eac86fa ?rdr=trueSouth Irving Library F14b4944 1c53 4627 Addb 557b4abdeb9c Screenshot 2023 07 14 At 9.56.13 AM 600x433 6 Irving Street Grand Falls Windsor 1259328 1 P ?2023 06 12 10 16 03AA1f9CW7.img528156 M6ZBCcWhEDuVKwn9InQ0UVwWUWx5zQZr0smzuegojqk S. Irving 014 528156 SZBT1Q PvMfEcJDMGdIMxYrItadYUzXVlb9BxKJvKyk 528156 8iZEQTjP63CIm Q2FbgDi9U87yjkVzhz WJlMRWmxcs South Irving Library Maxresdefault 15752 S. Irving 090 F1BA0n3WAA4H RC?format=jpg&name=large5414 Irving St Philadelphia Pa Building Photo ?p=1Irving Public Library Featured Image S. Irving 094 4892 Itx South Irving Public Library 48240930387 F26b72e04c B Document?documentID=45268