Soccer-Danes ready for penalty shoot-out pressure in last-16 clash with Germany

Metavisio SA

28/06/2024 10:39

DORTMUND, Germany, June 28 (Reuters) - Denmark drew
their opening three games at Euro 2024 to set up a last-16 tie
with hosts Germany, and should that game on Saturday also end in
a stalemate, they are well-prepared for the ensuing penalty
shoot-out.  
    Kasper Hjulmand's side have been practicing their spot kicks
for months to try to prepare for whatever may come at the Euros,
and striker Jonas Wind said he already knows where he is going
to hit his kick if he is called upon to take one. 
    "It differs from player to player, but for me it is better
to have made a decision in advance, (but) there are also others
who prefer to decide at the last moment," Wind, who plays his
club football in Germany for VfL Wolfsburg, told reporters.
    "I don't use statistics on the goalkeepers to choose kicks -
there is a possibility to get statistics, but I don't use that,
I focus more on my own kick," he added. 
    For months, coach Hjulmand has been asking his players to
prepare themselves for what could be one of the high-pressure
moments of their careers, and it doesn't get much higher than a
penalty against the hosts in a shoot-out at a major
international tournament.
    "You can try to simulate the pressure with a competitive
element, but it will never be quite the same as if we have to
stand on Saturday in front of a full stadium in Dortmund," Wind
said.
    "You can feel that the heart beats an extra time before a
penalty kick. I think everyone feels some kind of pressure, so
it's about dealing with it in the best possible way, finding
calmness and kicking the ball in the net," he added. 
    A Danish victory may not quite eclipse 1992 when they won
the tournament as rank outsiders, but it would certainly come
close, and if they do win they will face either Spain or Georgia
in the quarter-finals.

 (Reporting by Philip O'Connor; Editing by Toby Chopra)
 ((philip.oconnor@thomsonreuters.com))