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)
409ac6074c914f104dc706d4172e5e1f 94e0b809f331844b9400154f09fcd440 09700fb1b41234eb2e249bee215f9adb Minimalist Padded Bar Stools With Arms 9e7a9b4d338d8a9db95c895f9d0032ad Counter Bar Stools 64760bfe25e6e ?crop=1.00xw 0.502xh;0,0.232xh&resize=1200 *A48360ca D52c 47db Bda1 9c3f7c29359c.a80dae5cd20504f7d5211ca22e2fd2f3 Contemporary Kitchen With Stools 550x550 57e05e99d320ee62eb07d5cb532174de 95ff71396ef0e9016292a8c7afb6f84c Amherst 385930 22e G 802x1024 OakImage 1618505237565 MediumSquareAt3X Stools For Kitchen Island Counter Stools With Backs 70c90399f11a4eebc0a7e18488ec1ac4 Wood Bar Stools Kitchen Stools Bar Stools With Arms 289b92b534c14585ef8494e5a9157e0b D20dc0d194d4a042ddd1c8cce288c38a 2c2685115cf5c55290cf8cdfbb338417 C6b4f8a637a7519859a77045a9be3dda 24430568cc0f3a07203b8bd92b656b86 Pexels Photo 3745525 ?strip=all&lossy=1&ssl=137c1a81d9163b2483ffe64c1760bf697 Stig Bar Stool With Backrest Black Black 0948119 Pe798874 S5 ?f=sgBDD55465 511Ck1vObJL. SL500 790c4db4 67c6 40e6 94e2 F99cc6964d5a 1.38df554d42aa4abfe012c73a5a763094 ?odnWidth=1000&odnHeight=1000&odnBg=ffffff334cb736eb702c3584a29546de1d4566 Db92e4508e3d07fdbbd3f240cdf77f2a 50687 Oak N3 Counter Stool 1 1 U Shaped Kithen 8 1024x782 5701390387973 01cBefore Stools