The Sports Psychology Blog
This Sports Psychology blog, comes as France exit Euro' 2008, with a tame defeat to Italy.
Football: France - A Tame Surrender
So France fail to defeat Italy, and leave the European Championships. Their defeat summed up, by the second Italian goal. A long-range shot from Daniele De Rossi, that was flicked, carelessly, into his own goal, by Thierry Henry.
This was a French team, that had given up. After a draw with Romania, and defeat to Holland, we wondered whether Raymond Domenech's public criticism of his players, would act as a wake-up call. Galvanise his troops, to put in a performance, worthy of their status, as World Cup runners-up.
But no. It seemed to make no difference. This was a team, that was ready for their summer holidays. Whatever respect they held for the head coach, had diminished. France were lifeless and lacking in spirit, again. Three games...three performances loaded with indifference.
Surely, someone must have seen this disaster coming, in the pre-tournament training camp? Signs of disaffection and disinterest. Indications, that all was not well. Poor body language. Negative training attitudes. Lack of communication. Either they did, but didn't have the wit, to resolve the problems. Or, even worse, failed to notice, that trouble was brewing.
Either way, it all happened on Raymond Domenech's watch. It was, ultimately, his job, to prepare this team, to deliver on the European stage. The project failed miserably. This was not a team, motivated and playing for the coach. And they didn't seem too bothered, who noticed.
