Lessons for life taken from the Confederation Cup
The group stage of the Confederation comes to its final rounds.
The Confederation Cup is FIFA’s warmup event for the World Cup.
And already I happen to have ‘jotted down’ two valuable lessons.
Ironically, the realizations came about when the ‘underdogs’ played.
Both Japan’s and Tahiti’s national squad came for the cup with small aspirations.
Tahiti is ranked 132nd best squad in the world according to FIFA.
And it has to play against the squads ranked 1, 19 and 31.
Already during their first match, against Nigeria (31st), they showed they had little to show when it came football.
With very little individual talent, and with a team composed of only one professional player (all others were amateurs), their tactics were very naive.
They lost badly to the Nigerians. A score worthy of tennis.
Yet the Tahitians were never even close to being humiliated.
For despite the loss, they leave behind a subtle but beautiful lesson.
The Tahitians knew they hadn’t come to win the tournament.
They knew they hadn’t come to Brazil to even win a single game.
They came to Brazil to enjoy football.
They came for the ride.
They came to have the opportunity to play amongst some of the best nations in the world.
They came to have the opportunity to represent their country and show the world some of their friendly and welcoming culture.
But above all they came to enjoy themselves.
And enjoy the beautiful sport of football.
At the start of every game, they give every opposing player a necklace made out of petals.
Symbol of their respect and good-will towards everyone, even rivals.
A piece of their culture, and an example of good sportmanship.
And that kind of positive energy has had a beautiful impact on those watching their games in the stadium.
Against Nigeria, contaminated by Tahiti’s ‘good vibes’ the crowd watching the game cheered and supported Oceania’s representative throughout the entire game.
Chanting and driving them forward, especially as they suffered many goals.
And ‘booing’ their opponents whenever they had the ball.
Nigeria was almost unfairly made into a villain during that game.
Tahiti was losing 3-0.
When the stadium’s heroes had a moment of glory.
They found a single goal, after a corner, and a lapse in defense from the Africans.
3-1.
The goal caused an explosion of happiness that took over the stadium.
The Tahitians were in ectasy with that goal!
They had already accomplished more than they had expected.
They were proud.
It was a historical moment for them and for Tahitian football.
And they shared it with a crowd that was inflamed with emotion.
When celebrating the goal, all players rehearsed the same stance.
Acting as though they were all ‘rowing a canoe’ in synchrony.
A tribute to their national and most important sport.
A touching showcase of their culture to the world.
They ended losing 6-1. But couldn’t be happier and more proud.
They had enjoyed the ride. They had enjoyed the experience.
The lesson they leave behind is simple but powerful.
We would all be much happier if we lived life the way these men play their games.
Living life for the ‘ride’ that is living life.
Having fun in life independent of score.
Independent of wealth, success or fame.
Taking opportunities that will lead to amazing experiences.
Experiences that will make you feel good and bring about the best memories.
My second lesson, a far more sombre one, revealed itself during the best game of the cup so far.
The Japanese were expected to be crushed by the traditionally amazing Italians.
But surprisingly, Japan opened the game scoring 2 fantastic goals.
They were amazingly organized on the pitch.
They moved mechanically around the pitch as a synchronous unit.
Passing the ball around quickly, and taking opportunities to hit the target when they could.
But the Italians wouldn’t take that.
And through unrivalled individual talent,they turned the tide of the game.
Two amazing goals and a penalty for the Italians that shouldn’t have been awarded added to the thrill.
This incredible game turned 3-2 for the Italians.
The Japanese decided they hadn’t come this far to leave defeated.
They gave it everything they had and a little bit more.
Their determination gave them energy to chase the ball vigorously.
And all that hard work apparently paid off.
A technically prefect header drew the game for the Japanese.
3-3.
But the Japanese wanted more. They wanted to win.
They were playing amazing football.
They were having a perfect game.
They were suffocating the Italians within their own half.
A Japanese blitzkrieg.
They were pushing. They were almost scoring.
And then suddenly, the Italians score.
Out of nowhere.
A quick counter attack.
A few seconds where the Japanese happened to have lost the ball.
The Japanese are destroyed.
Some players have tears in their eyes.
It is unfair.
That defeat is undeserved.
But it’s happening.
The Japanese try to pick themselves up.
They push on.
Start their pressure again.
And manage to hit the post 3 times!
Twice in a single play!
But an Italian victory seems to have been fated by the Gods of Football.
Bad luck, fate or circumstance….call it whatever you like.
Japan lost despite doing everything right.
They lost despite doing everything they could do.
Just like football, life can trick you like that.
At one point in your life you will find that despite having done everything right, things turned out wrong.
It will feel unfair.
It will feel unjust.
It will anger and frustrate you.
But that’s life.
Sometimes in life, things couldn’t have been different no matter your choices or actions.
It just worked out that way.
Things like this happen. They are unavoidable.
But the smart ones are the ones that will pick themselves up quickly.
Salvage what they can from the situation.
Understanding that the energy spent grieving is energy badly spent.
Those who are smart will move on optimistically.
Re-strategizing, re-organizing, setting new goals.
Going back to the drawing board.
And trying to see the defeat through much of the same light the Tahitians used in their games.
Understand that life is not about victories or defeats.
Life is about the ride…
