Messi Returns As Argentina Reaches Copa Semis
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)
915rwkgGiXL 884b4b60e90f714cc8d50801297c319186 2024 Electoral Map.2x.rhorizontal.w700 Sparkling Golden New Year 2024 Picture Id598146916?k=6&m=598146916&s=170667a&w=0&h=jLzxAdlZV Oyz0Sf KHmPALnBkpHFvVyCvDfSaQwXQg=Eddc7504de8a7f77d9c0cd0607aa94e8 News 2024 Eclipse Path Of Totality Via Google Maps . 31893016@800 1584944771 Cra0r8ouayea1 World Map 2020 Dml6mygakl561 2020 Actual Using 2024 Electoral Votes TSE2024 Overview Map For Website 412191 Download Free World Map High Resolution 1920x1080 For Mac USA 2024 Eclipse Wall Map MfXj3ZJs4QIJRbu83fAT7q1h9SRRtq9roumO6lETYLk ?auto=webp&s=08fc6e0b4ad24b924d99a25a649cec23f97d23b0J59o8gq Map Usa 2024 Times 062923eleccollege 7502855109b678996544869eacebaaf0 World Country Map Scaled Fn50pgsjkml81 2024 Senate Map First Look 59bc8b300033814b80b008a001e02bc6 World Map 2023 By Analyticalengine D56u0pt Fullview ?token=eyJ0eXAiOiJKV1QiLCJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJzdWIiOiJ1cm46YXBwOjdlMGQxODg5ODIyNjQzNzNhNWYwZDQxNWVhMGQyNmUwIiwiaXNzIjoidXJuOmFwcDo3ZTBkMTg4OTgyMjY0MzczYTVmMGQ0MTVlYTBkMjZlMCIsIm9iaiI6W1t7ImhlaWdodCI6Ijw9NjUwIiwicGF0aCI6IlwvZlwvNmM5NTljOGItNGE3MS00YWVjLTkzY2ItZWI2ODY1ODJkZjYwXC9kNTZ1MHB0LTJjYzRhNzcwLTIzZWQtNGVhNC1hNTZjLTE4MjdhMzc0MTUzZC5wbmciLCJ3aWR0aCI6Ijw9MTIwNCJ9XV0sImF1ZCI6WyJ1cm46c2VydmljZTppbWFnZS5vcGVyYXRpb25zIl19.Rnk TaFEyDXOv2M0wQEP8SK7 PiXOSwJfTI67l5BdagDezcbw26zxo71 75687ef560864a88fa0e4b9bbf46b044 Map GNikS3y8WphUQLYA68gM7j 970 80 Q4o8dUqNbpNQCjmHbskUVe 1200 80 World Map 2023 By Analyticalengine D56u0pt 8ab18053e08ccffd941afc3591192ee5 XDCgRxLgMEXQ73Ax HXa Od6RLW5fdtoVAfJ0gZaqD4 ?auto=webp&s=b9793f0964513c02cfe2cd794f4d090da4fc070aUsa 2024 Eclipse Path 1500PX