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)
C6a546d1ddb8b0b4d9f1d9b9c6e2dd6f 6912682 F260 8823016 Fpx.tif?op Sharpen=1&wid=700&hei=855&fit=fit,171TZafUGR9L. AC SL1200 Ef88843a 2046 45f2 A0b2 04ea19eccd08 ?crop=pad&pad Color=FFF&format=jpeg&w=780&h=1196M 64fb644f253a8c92eb4e7844 115111 219214 Ts 8823019 Fpx.tif?op Sharpen=1&wid=700&hei=855&fit=fit,1A7a1a897 994f 4dc9 8b41 Ad65500b5c8d 1.27da9565e4d466f720e78b5c82a72b0c ?odnWidth=612&odnHeight=612&odnBg=ffffffMelissa Doug Castle Play Set Factory 1 60a0081c294af9a5037c917bb9d59412 Melissa Doug Wooden Castle Bl 1639310386 24e6cd97 Melissa Doug Princess Castle Furniture Set De84c79e Be24 41ac 95d2 C4159c01aa37 600 Melissa And Doug Castle Blocks 28 Pieces Play Set 1 B6067757 C1aa 440c 849b Ede1d96834d2 . CB283754914 9832148 Fpx.tif?op Sharpen=1&wid=700&hei=855&fit=fit,11571317163722651022 800x800 Maxresdefault 816gaTmszrL 8a5bff728207cc4fbc5338670439bcf0 Pcast4 Grande ?v=1607016932Csws 1024x1024@2x ?v=1603825405Pcast6 1200x1200 ?v=1607016932Pcast3 1024x1024 ?v=1607016932Pcast2 1024x1024 ?v=1607016932Melissa Og Doug Genanvendelig Klistermaerkepude Princess Castle 14306 602063 7 Melissa And Doug Folding Medieval Castle 1329 8255624 2201 0273b54473bc9b7a1fdbd1df50e1dc2b Melissa And Doug Castle Playset 1024x680 Melissa Og Doug Genanvendelig Klistermaerkepude Princess Castle 14306 602063 2
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)
