Thomas Muller has admitted he needs a break from penalties to work on his technique after missing in Germany‘s shoot-out with Italy.
The Bayern Munich forward is yet to find the net in five games at Euro 2016 and was one of three Germans to miss their spot-kick in the quarter-final win over Italy on Saturday.
Muller saw his strike saved by Gianluigi Buffon and despite the 6-5 shoot-out victory, he says he will take himself off penalty-taking duty to focus on improving his technique.
“I will not be taking any penalties for the next two weeks,” Muller told German newspaper Bild, as reported by Goal.
“I will work on my technique at penalties for a bit and I will be back stronger in one or two months or so. I will take a step back and let others do the business for now.
“If a match goes to penalties again and we need someone, I will be available, but I will not be asking to take one myself.”
Muller also missed for Munich against Atletico Madrid in the Champions League semi-final second leg this season and has decided to try and rediscover his form from 12 yards.
With the match locked at 1-1 after extra time following goals from Mesut Ozil and Leonardo Bonucci, the game went to penalty kicks.
Germany had an excellent record in shoot-outs, having not missed a single one in major tournaments since 1982, but after Simone Zaza had blazed over for Italy, Muller was the first German to miss, with Buffon pushing his attempt away.
Ozil and Bastian Schweinsteiger also failed to find the net, but two saves from Manuel Neuer brought Joachim Low’s side back into it and Jonas Hector slotted in the crucial penalty to put them through to the semi-final.
It is not just penalties that Muller has struggled with recently, as he has failed to break his run of never scoring in a European Championships.
The 25-year-old has attempted 13 shots in the five games so far without scoring, but with Mario Gomez out of the next game injured, Germany may be reliant on an upturn in fortunes from Muller.
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