Skip to main content

Germany 7 – Brazil 1, Football World Cup 2014, 8th June 2014, semi-final

Football World Cup 2014, 8th June 2014, semi-final
Germany 7 – Brazil 1
What a match!

As a sports psychologist, who's worked with footballers at different levels, I really enjoyed the match. Here's what I saw:

 0-0 The beginning. For Brazil there was such hope. When they had possession of the ball, the crowd cheered, and most of the stadium was a sea of Brazilian yellow and green. For Germany, they played equally well as Brazil, but the crowd was not willing them to do well or win.

1-0 Germany scored, Brazil looked surprised, their supporters looked surprised, the pressure increased for Brazil.  The Germans gained momentum after the first goal and looked more in control.

2-0   When Germany scored the second goal, the Brazilian players and fans looked shocked. How could this be happening? Is this really happening? What do we do? For Germany, their momentum and confidence grew.

3-0   After the 3rd German goal, the Germans played with more confidence and belief. They were having fun out there. The Brazilian supporters were becoming quieter as the game progressed.

4-0    

5-0    By now the more and more Brazilian fans were cheering on the Germans! They had given up on their team and were appreciating the display they were seeing. German skill was met with chants of “Ole, ole” – chants normally reserved for their team, never before given to the opposition.

6-0

7-1 Brazil scored – at last – in the 90th minute. They had salvaged some pride. Germany showed their belief and professionalism by getting annoyed that they had allowed Brazil to score. Many would think what did it matter as they were 5 goals behind and with no chance to win? But, the Germans wanted to shut the Brazilians out, to prevent them from scoring at all. They wanted it and knew that they could do it. So ‘letting in a goal’ was a blow to them. Their goalie, Manuel Neuer, remonstrated to his defenders.

In short:
Brazil: Such hope, such devastation. 
Germany: Belief, execution, fun.
Hope without the ability to execute equals delusion.
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

How will athletes react to the news that lifetime drug bans might be overturned by the BOA before the Olympics?

BBC website announces today: ‘Former Olympic triple jump champion Jonathan Edwards is happy the British Olympic Association's lifetime ban for drug cheats looks set to be overturned.’ http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/olympics/17818958   Without going into how we as spectators think or feel about this issue, I’m interested in the impact that this issue might have on other competitors – those competing in the sports that the previously banned athletes compete in. Athlete A:   With a strong sense of right and wrong, Athlete A gets further fired-up and motivated to show the drug cheats that they are better, that they can win clean, expecting their performance to do the talking. This news of allowing, or potentially allowing, the banned athletes back in, is motivating, helping them prepare and perform. Athlete B:   With a belief that the sports officials, system or the world lets them down, Athlete B becomes angry at the developments. They may either get fired-up...
Post a Comment
Read more

Develop confidence for race day, then keep ontop of nerves on the day

For many athletes, as the race comes closer and closer, confidence starts to evaporate and nerves start to build. Here are some tips for what the athlete can do in the lead-up to race day and on race day itself to have a smoother and more enjoyable day. Developing race confidence: Tip 1: Prepare by going through race simulations. Set up training to practice for the event(s) you’ve entered. Make your training physically and practically similar to the event. For a triathlete, then this means that you at least once swim, bike and run: • At the same speeds as you expect to in the race • Over the same distance (or close to the distance if it is a long triathlon) • On the same terrain (open-water swim, hilly or flat bike and run courses) • With the same equipment as you expect to use in the race If you aren't a triathlete, then run similar simulations in your sports where it is practical and safe to do so. Tip 2: Use your imagery skills to visualise yourself completing your event with th...
Post a Comment
Read more

Exercise can be good for stress-relief: Why? Why not share this good news?

Sport and exercise – but not competition for most of us – can be a good way to de-stress. This works for several reasons: It takes us away from stressful situations (home or work) We focus on what we are doing (e.g, chasing a football, hitting the tennis ball, running drills…) and therefore not on life’s problems We have endogenous opiates (‘happy hormones’) released into our bloodstream which feel good We might be exercising or playing sport with positive, encouraging people Those of us who exercise know this already. Perhaps we can share the good news to those who don’t exercise or engage in sport?  Dr Victor Thompson www.sportspsychologist.com
Post a Comment
Read more