At this point, we all recognize the impact of psychological variables on both performance and experience in sport . Specifically in football, we tend to mask them with expressions such as “being a pineapple” (group cohesion), “coming out plugged in” (concentration), “filling up with the ball” (narrow attention span) or “filling up with ghosts” (cognitive anxiety), among many others.

However, the idea that these variables are susceptible to training and, with it, the professional figure of the sports psychologist, still has some way to go.

Moments in the history of football that could have been different

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

1. The Riquelme penalty

The 2006 edition of the Champions League will be remembered as FC Barcelona’s second cup, but some of us remember it as Villarreal’s first contact with the top European competition… and what a contact!

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

After losing 1-0 in London, we arrived in the 90th minute at the Madrigal with a goalless draw, when the yellows found themselves with a penalty to force extra time. The penalty taker was Argentina international Juan Roman Riquelme, one of the best players of his time and an expert penalty taker. However, his very facial and body expression betrayed the impending tragedy… Riquelme would fail and it would be Arsenal who would reach the final which, in the end, would go down to the culĂ©.

When we perceive a high demand of the situation with respect to our capacities , pressure is produced. Adequate cognitive management, accompanied by breathing and concentration techniques, can help us to minimize the psychological factor in such “simple” tests on a technical level as taking a penalty.

The ‘Alcorconazo’ against Real Madrid

In 2009 the president Florentino PĂ©rez returned to Real Madrid. Faithful 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 signing the two golden balls KakĂĄ and Cristiano Ronaldo, the young promise Karim Benzema and national stars like Xabi Alonso or Álvaro Arbeloa.

Such an aircraft carrier docked in Santo Domingo, the field of the modest 2ÂȘB, AD AlcorcĂłn in sixteenths of the Copa del Rey. To this day, it is still a matter of discussion how it was possible for David to get a 4-0 win over Goliath, since, if Madrid had better players, better coach, more experience, more money… Where was the key?

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

Zidane’s header to Materazzi

Zinedine Zidane was probably the best player of his time. A star with Juventus and Real Madrid, he won the Champions League, the European Cup, the World Cup and the Golden Ball, and ended his successful career with the 2006 World Cup in Germany. After a great tournament being decisive against Spain and assisting against Brazil, he stood in the final against the always fearsome Italians. It could not have started better for France: a penalty in favour and Zizou, far from getting nervous, converted the 1-0 at the panenka for the team. However, the story of Italy is now known. Materazzi headed home and forced extra time, but that would not be his last contribution to the cause.

In added time, the defender dropped some impertinence on Zidane, who drove the Galactico out of his depth, and he headed a crude header into his chest, earning him a red card from the game, the Final, the World Cup and, ultimately, football. With Zidane out of the picture and one less, Italy managed to hold out until the penalty shootout that would end up giving them their fourth world title.

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