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The perfect penalty
The referee's decision
''When the referee points to the spot, the most important thing to begin with is to look forward to the penalty, remain calm and collected, then concentrate on the task at hand. That can obviously be a big challenge, particularly for young players. Fitness is also an important element for a successful penalty. If I run up with a pulse of 120 bpm and lose my concentration as a result, it will obviously affect my execution. If I start and have a pulse of 120 and therefore can't concentrate, that affects the execution. Taking a penalty kick requires a combination of concentration, power and precision. One thing you shouldn't forget is that, if you don't feel well or having an off game, you should always leave the penalty to a teammate. A goal for the team is always more important than scoring a goal yourself. Missing a penalty always hurts, especially if it means the team drops points as a result.''
Make your mind up
"Don't pay too much heed to the goalkeeper, think back to your past penalties and then decide which option to go for. I always used to make a snap decision to go for one of the corners or down the middle, but it's good to listen to your gut instinct. Most of the time, I also chose to go high, because it is so much more difficult or almost impossible for the goalkeeper to reach the ball when it's up high, ideally as close to the post as possible. The keeper might go the right way, but the ball will still hit the back of the net. You have to be clear in your head, because if the opposition fans whistle as you're running up and then you change your mind, your shot won't be as secure and the likelihood of missing will be higher."
The ball
"I always put it down with the label facing me. Other shooters always put the ball down with the valve pointing up or to the side. The ball should be placed exactly the same way for every penalty. This gives you a good spot to aim at. I always valued the fixed routine because it helped me to concentrate, as did smoothing the turf by stepping on it a few times around the penalty spot, as there are often bumps there."
The mental battle
"Goalkeepers often try to delay the penalty in order to fluster the taker. Or they give you some chat as they hand you the ball to try to throw you off your game. But I was always quite relaxed about it, it's part of the game - and at that point I already knew where I was going to aim anyway. It's good to have a certain coolness and laugh about it rather than get involved in back-and-forths. Blocking out provocations and opposing fans, focusing solely on the shot - that's always been my recipe for success."
The run-up
"Nowadays, a lot of penalty-takers will hop, jump or walk up to the ball - I always went for a straight run-up, without any fuss or show. As soon as I started, I never looked at the goalkeeper, all that will do is distract you. Also the run-up should always be the same, for me it was four steps. I almost always curled the ball, so as a left-footer I stood slightly to the right of the ball so I could get the perfect angle for the shot. It's also very important to take your time and not start running as soon as the referee blows the whistle; you decide when to start, not the whistle. And the most important thing: never change your mind about where to shoot during the run-up."
The shot
"Now power comes into play. The perfect penalty will hit the back of the net regardless of whether the keeper goes the right way. That's why I favoured powerful penalties to chipped or side-footed ones. After all, if you shoot it well and the keeper makes the save, you have nothing to blame yourself for. But if you pass the ball into the goalkeeper's arms, you look stupid. The goal is big, but you still have to pick your spot if you opt for the power option. I also almost always hit penalties with a lot of curl, as that made it even more difficult for the goalkeeper as the ball was spinning away from him. It all comes down to the perfect combination of power and precision. Most of the time you know if the ball is going in as soon as you make contact, because you can feel you've hit it well. I always savoured that moment because, as you know, there is no better feeling than watching one of your shots hit the back of the net.''
The celebration
''Obviously there is huge joy after every goal, but it's particularly strong after a penalty as the showdown with the keeper creates extra tension. That said, I never used to celebrate all that much. Most of the time I would just lift my index finger in the air. Since I usually shot the ball so hard into the net, it often bounced back to me. I would then pick it up and celebrate with it in my hands. It's a nice moment, especially because it's also a reward for all the hard work in training. Scoring a penalty may look easy, but it's the result of extra hours on the training pitch. As a youngster and later throughout my career, I always put in extra sessions in training to practice penalties and free kicks. That was the basis for the many set-piece goals I scored in the Bundesliga."
Pressure against Großkreutz, chip over Leno
Dramatic scenes unfolded in Dortmund on 18 May 2013; the Matchday 34 clash between BVB and TSG is one of the most legendary Bundesliga games of all time. In front of more than 80,000 fans, Borussia, who would go on to face Bayern Munich in the Champions League final a week later, held a 1-0 lead for most of the game. TSG were in 17th place in the table and seemed doomed for relegation. But then came Sejad Salihović. The Bosnian converted two penalties, the second against outfield player Kevin Großkreutz, who replaced Roman Weidenfeller after the latter had been sent off. It was a nerve-shredding finale that Salihović still has vivid memories of: "Jürgen Klopp had fielded his best side, and they were determined to knock us down. We should have been down 5-0. It was a miracle that we managed to come back. The first penalty, in the 77th minute, I drilled very confidently into the top-right corner. But the second one felt trickier.''
But Salihović kept his cool in the pulsating cauldron of a football stadium. "When the second penalty was awarded, I first went to the bench to have a drink. On the way there I thought to myself: I'm definitely firing this one high down the middle. If he saves it, that's just how it goes. On my way back to the penalty area, I saw that Großkreutz was in goal. He was shuffling on the line, trying to distract me. But I didn't care, I had made my decision and I followed through with it. It was a fantastic feeling when the ball hit the net. I will never forget that day. It could well have ended with me being a loser, but I had faith in my abilities and stayed calm. The penalty went in, we won 2-1 and thereby reached the relegation play-off against Kaiserslautern. I actually missed a penalty against them, but we did enough to keep ourselves up," says "Sali" with a laugh.
He also has clear recollections of the few penalties he missed - and of the desire to make amends: "Bernd Leno once got to one of mine right in the corner for Leverkusen. It was a good penalty and an outstanding save. I told everyone: if we get another penalty, I'll dink it over Leno. That's exactly what ended up happening. It was a bit of a personal battle, but we had a good laugh about it after the game.''
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