Marsch: 'Lack Of Discipline' Led To U.S. Copa Exit
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)
Dcf37048e148c12607e7a8f8a323643c 2138733 2 L WOODNEO%25203seat Walnut White%2520Leather Ls F1d9cf5e A305 45e2 91e3 D51cae9aa9a0.258d88cfa695348baba3930f7ddd44fb 92152736 4241 4506 942a Dbeaa3fc5c83 2.eae14826d45607b1ec10713227286f6b Home Design F1536896 722c 41fd 951a 089114fb14c1 2.da934cfab2ebd5db15b11a2b6ab78acc 970b1e4a Cabd 4db5 8e66 72186002756d.4f28da2b49a44bb05e335ac5a0266e1d ?odnWidth=612&odnHeight=612&odnBg=ffffff2f2086bd 7916 456a 971b E18f6a7965c1.441535d18c82c014c120ccbf1e66f67c ?odnWidth=1000&odnHeight=1000&odnBg=ffffffC2717a4b 5c2c 4f2f B8ab Ae9881d01a64.4c692dc16a9e934073f4d12d3c47fce4 Madison Home USA 2 Tone Mid Century Sleeper Sofa CAP CLAP Madison Home USA 2 Tone Mid Century Sleeper Sofa 2138731 10 L 391909af 35f9 48fa B2ff 21e79541ff48.22934fa10a4424765610e09c50961e9a 71iV6kGJfxL. SL1010 A8f91e5c Dbd7 4fa7 8ce8 Fc6a9dfe8043.d9295c3f85b15b074db8c6f76a70d1d5 Dcc34cfd4278c4a206e31d8a36cdc31e Mid Century Look Sofa Bed F 29124692 1655310423275 Bg Processed Velvet Mid Century Sofa Sleeper 07a4d8f7 195c 4e13 82af C85935b17acf 600 ?impolicy=mediumE36fd3fe74ad98d9abb18c21019e0ed7 866d4a5d51cacf8646ddd9c0f30f7516 Sleeper Sofas Grant IMG 0051 ?v=1535583215205d63a04eb61d5f19dcde5bb557c2ae Sofa1a 0fb88e67 606e 4b26 A45b 6de82a6c62e4.ce78c2bce8c3f79d04ff5fee75958de5 7bea5ead61ed0bcb25c8215596423880 Mid Century Sofa Sleeper 200 Americanlisted 37344755 Fad45eeb88a15ce2d1d590442fddb8f35b9f84254882662555 12debd9e3b 17DEN161 1328 ?ixlib=rb 3.1.0&w=1400&h=2100&fit=max&crop=&auto=format17DEN161 1326 ?ixlib=rb 3.1.0&w=1400&h=2100&fit=max&crop=&auto=format17DEN161 1323 ?ixlib=rb 3.1.0&w=1400&h=2100&fit=max&crop=&auto=format
Marsch: 'Lack Of Discipline' Led To U.S. Copa Exit
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)
