Funding Cuts And Austerity: What's Next For The 'right-sized' A-League?
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)
Acdc8a36 1967 4f1c B1f1 2562de1a0e9c 71saGQCHE4L. AC SL1500 61Pj0N8bp2L. SL1469 BTS Map Of The Soul Tour 2020 Scaled S L300 51XLchG8d7L. SX466 Bf906382db3138889851ce400f420b13.832x832x1 EO1 3gnUUAAZTeC?format=jpg&name=4096x409661dMr8RTFvL. SL1469 49063d2c 5835 445f Af72 6920fe0a0742 Il 570xN.3595115610 Oihj 61Rh1cFUnZL. SL1469 E2d66ffd5aa1b22f3697a401f14bcc9a Maxresdefault C4cce57ef9ce775596192117e0b826af S L1600 3ecac179f6fd62f8b5d6323c50f7df60 Maxresdefault S L300 61cAHxYqTdL Bts Map Of The Soul 7 Concept Teaser 3 All Group 2000x1332 B5cd00a4ee7bf4174911c99379ded57901a068ea69fd249f1e542af0f5e5db1b55188b95r1 2048 1260v2 Hq 4b4dzuhu3hb51 Il Fullxfull.2321072529 Tbsf Maxresdefault Maxresdefault Map Of The Soul 7 The Journey Cd Fc Edition Sbig 42mNcNOX8YQascIo24Q8CC A0fc22a2 7104 45aa A99a 693f7bb16e99 824293261a98f26249e16efdfa12a0a4 123356 805485 Img 6304 ?resize=880%2C1564&ssl=1
Funding Cuts And Austerity: What's Next For The 'right-sized' A-League?
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)
