Verstappen: Norris Friendship A Priority After Crash
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)
Da8bb137e72937c8bca1f4db63cb69b3 Link 004 20 MV5BYTg1NWI2YzQtZDg4YS00MTY1LWJmZDAtODRiYTM5MWY4YTdkXkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyMTkxNjUyNQ@@. V1 FMjpg UX1000 Shot Kitchen Trends 2024 With Bold Lighting 1 New Quartz Countertops Colors 2021 492A4410 492A4395 A09fb093046293245cd8cddf24f66f60 Modern Kitchen Trends For 2024 768x480 Dc0932c5e911e6b9855add32d12811b6 Kitchen Remodel Marble Countertops 3936c109272cce8544cefec66f64dc82 Fe536c58756e91722d4d1e739bbc33b4 What Are The Essential Components Of A Modern Kitchen Design 1 E1622111222117 4ad08e19d7d50e3cd23d23e23f087dc9 4 1 MV5BNTQyYWUwYWEtNDRiOS00MDgxLWJhY2ItMWZiYmFhYzIxMTVlXkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyMjYyODM5NjY@. V1 2024 Kitchen Design Trends And Ideas 4 Local Kitchens ?fit=contain&trim=true&flatten=true&extend=25&width=1200&height=630Kitchenbanc Hero 800x534 492A4466 4c008e11fc733fdaec5b1d162b779370 Aa4918e873b1c969775e350658cff277 Fcaaececfc34b90ee5288626b113c7ab AA1mAsZa.img?w=768&h=922&m=649d9dbacb53da75885ee170f00d2b079 Image 164360809 Image 164360808 Sd1 5d2830134e0f5e95045e79c0564bfcf1 6323 Image 165448694 492A4388 Kitchen 2024 After
Verstappen: Norris Friendship A Priority After Crash
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)
