Djokovic Digs For Win Vs. Wild Card; Hurkacz Exits
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)
Maxresdefault Wooden Blocks Lined Up With The Letters 2024 Represents The Goal Setting For 2024 The Concept Of A Start Financial Planning Development Strategy Bu 2RDPTFG 1685325828986 Hero41 ?width=1200&height=630&quality=75&mode=cropNew Plan 2024 Text On Wooden Blocks And White Background 2T5NY58 2024 Wooden Blocks With Term Text Of Concept Photo 11bfff03992bcce6a7bffa4b84506227 Cubic Wooden Blocks Forming The 2024 Text 2jm31k6 Wooden Blocks Lined Up Letters Represents Goal Setting Concept Start Financial Planning Development Strategy 285214808 Twenty Twenty Four Section Patterns 92ea61e969403f83 1024x740 2436665 52e B74d A40 512ccb4eec Rainbow Aurora 2024 Block Over 2023 And 2022 Wooden Building On Table Background Business Planning Risk Management Resolution Strategy Solution Goal New Year 2K5YW9N Plans 2023 2024 Cubes Form 260nw 2150226531 2024 Letter On Wood Block 260nw 2375521529 Blank Wooden Blocks 2024 On 600w 2215469473 Tile Blocks Changing 2023 2024 600nw 2341883865 10 20240115175516 2024 Letter On Wood Block 600w 2381563907 Randomized Block Design Example 2000 X 2000 220f447634972d53a4ef83e5b4fa73b3 Wooden Blocks Lined Up With The Letters 2024 Represents The Goal Setting For 2024 The Concept Of A Start Financial Planning Development Strategy Bu 2RFPP47 Wooden Blocks Lined Up With The Letters 2024 Represents The Goal Setting For 2024 The Concept Of A Start Financial Planning Development Strategy Bu 2T2FTP2 Cubic Wooden Blocks Forming The 2024 Text 2JM31K6 Wooden Blocks Lined Up With The Letters 2024 Represents The Goal Setting For 2024 The Concept Of A Start Financial Planning Development Strategy Bu 2T70KEJ A Set Of Colorful Blocks With 2024 Written On The Side 2JXMJ31 Preview 1000 2259941815 Constructions Form Numbers 2024 Polygonal 260nw 2363044721 Maxresdefault 010276368 1 B16b61c0fa8d093ab3d89b048f06085d 2024 Luxury Geometric Numbers Abstract 260nw 2291972959 20230629 TheScoop MichaelSaylor 16x9 2 1200x675 Largepreview Trends Concept Text Year Number Wooden Cube Blocks Stacked Isolated Wood Desk White Background Banner Business Trend 289333658
Djokovic Digs For Win Vs. Wild Card; Hurkacz Exits
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)
