Massive Crowds In And Around Wankhede To Greet Indian Team
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)
C149a7a7544ff96cf4bf00b423ca1d52 6d87363943843e7762aac75db9e5f4cd 2117285d3525a3b76c7869a7a15e366b Waiting Baby 768x643 43 Top New Year Wishes For Married Couple 2024 Messages Quotes 300x200 72873fb962c18ab7ad6133444ee03575 Eeb71b8687ad57ae602f8961850cc2a9 Marriage Quotes For Inspiration 1536x864 Fc24c539e9644f5f090272f73248cba7 Screen Shot 2023 05 19 At 2.31.00 AM Wedding Quotes Sayings Marriage 768x480 7928d864ebd72f5b05bc3dc1d37e7bce Il Fullxfull.3299259168 Gjry 7af81878820fc5a180ab8a2f9defd1d7 28a5717bece742b275a7083f6406a947 288efec497155e0ea03633ca5f6156c8 6b0bc70eca7723f2392dd2891d66dc70 A1d4b8cadc916d6ee4803f4e674fe77b 7465d953a43c2d333eaa95fd0ca97439 Bridal Quotes.webp026d81d95549fee908978b8a1f7c0c82 9816f3e701ff5d7f2d3fd7899d22a244 F6ac8d12afbc54920fdebe225cb70dba 43 Top New Year Wishes For Married Couple 2023 Messages Quotes 300x300 8121d86de68296605967b286cb5ee8c1 Wedding Quotes 600x857 Ccb4abf9cf7b25b4e448a7b005e875af Marriage 2a8d7c72fed2cd70576a205154f38d41 Wedding Quotes 300x252 5 5 Fa239724eccc9cb6c0061ce2af5f0ef6 68c3588ee4dae912d95797dcccd75e40 070eaa6ae5e961bcbbd4d1b33af9abe9