3 moments that could have changed the history of soccer

Moments in soccer history that could have been very different with mental training.

By now, we all recognize the impact of psychological variables on both performance and experience in the sport.. Specifically in soccer, we tend to mask them with expressions such as "being a team" (group cohesion), "going out with a bang" (concentration), "filling up on the ball" (narrow attentional frame) or "filling up with ghosts" (cognitive anxiety), among many others.

However, the idea that these variables can be trained, and with it, the professional figure of the sports psychologist, still has a long way to go.

Moments in the history of soccer that could have been different.

In this article we will review 3 moments in soccer history that, perhaps, would have been different with proper mental training to maximize the chances of success. that would have maximized the chances of success.

1. Riquelme's penalty

The 2006 edition of the Champions League will be remembered for being FC Barcelona's second cup, but some of us remember it as Villarreal's first taste of Europe's top competition... and what a taste it was!

The Yellow Submarine reached the semifinals after eliminating Glasgow Rangers and Inter Milan, no less, and the last step before the dream of the final was Arsenal.

After losing 1-0 in London, we reached the 90th minute at the Madrigal with a goalless draw, when the Yellows found themselves with a penalty to force extra time. The Argentine international Juan Román Riquelme, one of the best players of his time and an expert penalty taker, took the spot kick. However, his very facial and body expression gave away the impending tragedy... Riquelme would fail and it would be Arsenal who would reach the final, which would ultimately be won by the Culé team.

When we perceive a high demand of the situation with respect to our capabilities, pressure is produced.pressure is produced. Proper cognitive management, accompanied by breathing and concentration techniques, can help us minimize the psychological factor in tests as "simple" at a technical level as taking a penalty kick.

The 'Alcorconazo' against Real Madrid

In 2009, president Florentino Pérez returned to Real Madrid. True to his philosophy of "the team with the best players in the world will be the best team in the world", he repeated his all-star strategy and Madrid stormed the bench by signing the two golden ball winners Kaka and Cristiano Ronaldo, the promising young Karim Benzema and national stars such as Xabi Alonso and Alvaro Arbeloa.

Such an aircraft carrier docked in Santo Domingo, the field of the modest 2ªB, AD Alcorcón in the last 32 of the Copa del Rey. To this day, how David was able to beat Goliath 4-0 is still a matter of discussion, because, if Madrid had better players, a better coach, more experience, more money... Where was the key?

Motivation is the engine of all our actionsAnd counting on it can lead us to achieve the craziest dreams, and the lack of it to the most unexpected failures. Having attractive and challenging goals is a way to train it.

Zidane's headbutt to Materazzi

Zinedine Zidane was probably the best player of his time. Star at Juventus and Real Madrid, champion of the Champions League, Eurocup, World Cup and Ballon d'Or, he ended his successful career with the 2006 World Cup in Germany. After a great tournament, scoring a decisive goal against Spain and assisting against Brazil, they were in the final against the always fearsome Italians. Things could not have started better for France: a penalty was awarded and Zizou, far from getting nervous, converted the 1-0 Panenka style into the top corner. Materazzi headed in an equalizer to force extra time, but that would not be his last contribution to the cause.

In stoppage time, the defender let Zidane slip some impertinence that got the galactico out of his head, who gave him a rough headbutt in the chest, getting him expelled from the match, from the final, from the World Cup and, in short, from soccer. Without Zidane on the field and with one less, Italy managed to hold on until the penalty shootout that would end up giving them their fourth World Cup title.

Emotional intelligence consists in using emotions in our own interest.. Anger, excessive activation, can be oriented towards effort and resilience, instead of aggressiveness. We understand that the psychological aspect is important, but it is so important that, if it had come up heads, perhaps today Vilarreal would have a Champions League and Zidane would have had a movie ending... and perhaps with proper mental training... we would not depend on the coin.