Kent Bring In Tom Rogers For Second Block Of Vitality Blast
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)
791772733b280258a90087e9c2615d3b MV5BM2U1YjNlZGQtZTBjOC00MzM0LTg3MWUtZmYwOWYzMzg1NzE0XkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyMDM2NDM2MQ@@. V1 Maxresdefault MV5BZDQzNjM5Y2UtMDBhMS00ZWVjLWE3YTYtMzY2MGQ1Y2E4ZDQwXkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyMTUyMTc3NjQz. V1 FMjpg UX1000 MV5BMzYzYjlhMTUtZmFkNS00ZDBkLWIxNTItNGI4MTA0ZTVkMWNlXkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyMTUyNjIwMDEw. V1 Maxresdefault MV5BYWU5YTdjY2QtYTE5NC00YzI2LTg0NzMtMmU2MWIxYTk1ZDQ1XkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyMTUyNjIwMDEw. V1 05468c89b0e834168bb61ce9607de83fa20ff9 V5 ?v=0Hqdefault MV5BMmM3MTk0YzMtMDg1OC00YjQxLWE2MWItYzhlODEwZWY0MmVhXkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyMTUyNjIwMDEw. V1 Screen Shot 2023 10 27 At 8.50.32 AM Hqdefault MV5BNzZlODVjMzgtZGM1Yi00MWMwLTkyYTQtMzJlZjQ4MDgwYzg4XkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyMTUzMTg2ODkz. V1 B6d9c5816cfc0ef6d916db623cc440bb 71b34395209f19b974f29614696187de Men At Work 768x432.webpWatch Worlds Strongest Man Competition On Paramount Plus 2 The Best Spider Man Films Editor And A Sonic Editor Picsart 22 10 23 23 02 33 061 ?1666580615MV5BMTgyYTE5YTctZjIzNS00NmY1LWEwM2EtMzQwOTQ1MDYwNDExXkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyMTU0ODI1NTA2. V1 1321037 International Mens Day Wishes ?im=FitAndFill=(700,400)MV5BYWUwMGFmODMtYmFhNy00YTJlLWFiZDMtZDMwM2Q3NGZkNTgxXkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyMTU4Mzg1OTU2. V1 0 GettyImages 1480501110 1668446739 Happy Mens Day Wishes Quotes For Your Husband With Name.webpMen At Work 1 Jpg.webpC12b48ec6af6daa563c7c1666d315a4f Maxresdefault IMD Twitter Post 2 MAW3 Square Maxresdefault A6q66z2 700b Clmv3jd9mur4z0850b5wqlfx2 1695417051388 ?w=1200&h=675&ixlib=react 9.3.0Happy New Year Wishes For Husband 6 1024x682 B62522340ba19e3e92c3d98b0eb1c833 52376d692a3895054660a18722910e78
Kent Bring In Tom Rogers For Second Block Of Vitality Blast
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)
)
