SA Unsure On Quinton De Kock's T20I Future: 'We Have A Glimmer Of Hope That Sits In The Background'
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)
14fc12efafa10d032d9ef44d0b425d3a Water Resources Alabama Alabama Physical Map Lake Map 2017 Orig 34165af19923aa329e6f7aab3ae6ba58 Naida Alabama Navigable Waterways Alabama State Map Half Abt Map CWA553 Alabama Lakes And Rivers Map 00 61acad00 8714 428f B650 62ef778a3526 1.a16c64a255cf68f8b47a6130bb9e4871 Alabama Lakes Rivers Map Lakes In Alabama Il 300x300.2301018385 Mp4h Il 794xN.2561619935 354u Alabama Lakes Rivers Map 1034x1536 11e7ca335b1e8341afce704ecaf9d95c Basemap5 3e5296cea5c0b3e23e6ab9be815a202e Alabama River Map 6fd1ff9836862bcdb5d9edabd5c453d5 Alabama Map U S States Map Alabama Hand Made Rivers Lakes Shown Please Look My Other Images Cartographic Series All Very 118587954 Great Lakes Basin Map ?language Id=1Page 1 Map Of Alabama Terrain NA Al 01 Alabama Rivers Map Alabama State Map 130x193 Alabama Lakes And Rivers Map Alabama River Map 70337f4c061ecfa7a5171160887b353f Alabama River Levels Map