From A To F-minus: Why Cafeterias Around The NFL Received High -- And Low -- Marks
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)
Bergmund Bar Stool With Backrest White Inseros White 0926459 Pe789248 S5 ?f=gIngolf Bar Stool With Backrest White Hallarp Beige 0926827 Pe789538 S5 ?f=mA77fe3164892b911ba812faa701eStig Bar Stool With Backrest Black Black 0948110 Pe798867 S5 Ingolf Bar Stool With Backrest White 0728062 Pe736035 S5 $ 86.PNGSecond Hand Ikea White Bar Stools Stig Silla Bar Negro Negro 0948119 Pe798874 S5 ?f=s1500 1500 Frame 0 Ingolf Bar Stool With Backrest 0728065 PE736038 S5.JPG?f=xxlIkea Bar Stool 1621740237 51613081 Progressive 69d0a23b3ab0ac52b5ee03b7fb4c4b49 1500 1500 Frame 0 8bdc2788b50fba75272fff67e60ad928 Ikea Bar Stool 1649081916 Df188ad7Volfgang Bar Stool With Backrest Chrome Plated Gunnared Medium Grey 0873681 Pe700225 S5 ?f=sgAepplaroe Bar Stool With Backrest Outdoor Brown Stained 0285948 Pe422902 S5 Franklin Bar Stool With Backrest Foldable Black Black 0874580 PE680502 S5.JPG?f=sgEkedalen Bar Stool With Backrest White Ramna Light Grey 0657867 Pe710002 S5 Fe5a18cb1bf43f30a34cdb4f4aa7f726 Nordviken Bar Stool With Backrest Antique Stain 0926884 PE789572 S5.JPG?f=xxl461dc864446eec8476ff421ad4d15e5d 1500 1500 Frame 90 Bergmund Bar Stool With Backrest White Gunnared Medium Grey 0926505 Pe789294 S5 ?f=sg53c9b660645c9 54622b Nilsolle Bar Stool Birch 0874053 Pe595533 S5 ?f=sg52ea800e83e03a1a2c38e4447cdf03ef Category Bar Chairs 5eaa86fdfbb2e26b217b4511f48a76a8 Franklin Bar Stool With Backrest Foldable Black Black 0874546 PE680514 S5.JPG?f=sg944511669c45413b7845e4a5c2437019 Bar Chairs Bar Stools 3242c460392a251707ac8de4c00a1ad1 E771bd089e83fab5a00ef405b0eedfcd Page En Us 16632314851321035938 Dalfred Stolek Barowy Czarny 0727486 Pe735711 S5
From A To F-minus: Why Cafeterias Around The NFL Received High -- And Low -- Marks
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)
