Sainz: Contract Call For '25 Seat Is A Distraction
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)
642 Richmond Heights Blog Post Image 20230516170832 46198 0 Mace 2 Mace Spice.webpMacenancy 042023gn01 W ?w=1280Mace Spice 1152x1536 873070 Nancy Mace Hero What Is Mace 4x3 Bcaa6556f9864cc29b48af725ddc5ffd 00dc Mace 01 Wfgj SuperJumbo ?quality=75&auto=webp9996d32eb37cdb1862539e378bafc31b MACEPepperSpray 500x500 9149139a D4ad 4e56 A5bf 692859e3c703 ?v=1690829951&width=120061pdASxNMOL Mace Brand Pepper Spray Water Trainer 2 Pack Self Defense Training Kit 3ed6ead6 Fbe0 4681 8757 5b361287ee4f 1.a5e614e8d486d7cffcd5245cd3e83148 Mace Cameraman Value In Skibidi Tower Defense 80272 A WEB 71ejEqTL3YL Mace Spice 1 29097 861174 46076 0 6badc19c Ff41 439b 8823 22decdb6e674 What Is Mace Whole Mace Vs Ground Mace C79f4429 8261 4a84 B038 Aaca4b83894c 1.7566d97763f491d4e5a33df9af13ece7 12908019 02 Mace Defensive Spray W Uv Mark 640 Mace Op Tout MCE 80153 Mace Brand Refill 1 2024 Honda Civic Sdn 100882781 H Who Playing Jackie Keslos Son That 90s Show 00001 ?quality=86&strip=allS L1600 2931953.json71JUi M8tnL. AC UF1000,1000 QL80
Sainz: Contract Call For '25 Seat Is A Distraction
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)
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/What-Is-Mace-4x3-bcaa6556f9864cc29b48af725ddc5ffd.jpg)
