News Media — A Toxin to Sports
Today is the 2 July and it is on: Italy is going to play against Germany in the quarterfinals of the European Cup. Certainly this will be one of the top matches everyone has been waiting for. By taking a look at the statistics pessimists are probably not going to watch the game:
Never, in the history of international tournaments, Germany has been able to beat Italy.
If you’re interested in more information on that topic it is not very hard to find an article confirming the image of the unbeatable Squadra Azurrra. It is basically everywhere: The “Angstgegner” Italy. I’m wondering whether it makes any sense to use statistics should they speak against you.
Of course Germany has neither beaten Italy in the World Cup nor the European Cup, yet from my point of view it is counterproductive to continue writing articles about the reasons why Germany has to fear Italy. Media are just preserving a national trauma without a reason. Our players might be professionals but I believe that talking about a history of losses transfers an unnecessary fear to the subconsciousness of the players. It is somewhat similar to talking about England’s chances of winning a penalty shootout.
Although national teams have a completely different squad than 20 years ago, it seems that it is rather the nation itself than the individuals that is considered in the news. Germany can’t win against Italy, England never wins a penalty shootout and Brazil is the synonym for “o jogo bonito”. Whether statistic or cliché there is no benefit at all in accepting them as facts, still this what most media do and of course, why wouldn’t they? The media are basically providing information for those people who just want to say “I told you they would lose” and if the opposite happens there would be articles ignoring previous publications about how the author knew success was inevitable and people again would be feeling like experts.
News Media are of an opportunistic nature that is unhealthy to sports. Every athlete and member of a team needs to focus on an event and especially international competitions are extremely stressful as they can not only win a title for themselves but have the opportunity to be celebrated as a national hero. If they win, they take showers of praise. If they lose, however, they are treated as huge disappointments of the nation. How much this kind of destructive journalism burdens players and coaches can be seen in Rudi Völler’s famous interview after their draw against Iceland.
Speaking about Iceland…
If they had been playing according to statistics we wouldn’t see the team in the quarterfinals. They are one of the big surprises of this World Cup and they might surprise us even once more in their coming game against France.
Tonight, however, it is up to the German team to prove that there is no reason to fear Italy!
