Last update images today Where To Watch Fireworks Vancouver Wa
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)
Celebration Of Lights Fireworks Display At English Bay Vancouver Bc 585986390 592437963df78cf5fa68642d Maxresdefault Fireworks In Vancouver 1 5964686 1656346100147 Maxresdefault Honda Celebration Of Light 1009274504 06 27 Fireworks 6.27 TB18 Maxresdefault Vancouver Fireworks ;w=1200;h=800;mode=cropVancouver Nye Fireworks Maxresdefault 01101315 Honda Celebration Of Light Vancouver ;w=960Maxresdefault Maxresdefault July 22 Fireworks ;w=1080;h=743;mode=crop5a145510d598eb91f368462735956fc4 Getty 175641643 ?v=1628738499Bca98e17e4fbf24214eae0d0d0719525 Fire Works Vancouver May3 Fireworks ;w=960Maxresdefault 638ad6bf117092c4f73217ba71819207 Sub Buzz 977 1685027741 2 ?output Format=jpg&output Quality=autoFireworks Bursting Over Coal Harbour ?resize=640%2C400&ssl=1Maxresdefault Nye Fireworks Image Gettyimages 460938870 ?width=990Fireworks2 Maxresdefault Vancouver Fireworks Concords New Years Eve Vancouver 768x480 Canada Fireworks In Downtown Vancouver UK Fireworks 36 Vancouver Fireworks Hqdefault