The Sports Psychology Blog
This Sports Psychology blog, comes as Germany progress through to the semi-finals of Euro' 2008, with victory over Portugal.
Football: Germany - The Mentality!
Before their quarter-final match against Portugal, this German team were being written off in many quarters. The group defeat to Croatia, had sewed the seeds of doubts in the pundits minds. Their chances of defeating Portugal, were dismissed out of hand, by legend Franz Beckenbauer. There were also rumours of dressing-room strife, division and unrest.
Then there was the touchline and dressing-room ban, imposed on manager Joachim Low. All in all, the signs were, that this was not a German side, destined to progress.
Yet, perhaps, all the external criticism and negativity, served to united the team. Bring them together in a way, that clarified their focus, and sharpened their intensity. In adversity, the legendary German mentality, was awakened.
But what exactly is the German mentality? A mentality, is really a crystallisation of collective thoughts. The German mentality has been built over many years of successful tournament play. It is also a reflection, of the German way of thinking.
Clarity; focus; discipline; concentration; assessing. These are the characteristics of the German mind. Emotions rarely hold sway. Like the eagle, which is their symbol, it is single-minded and acts decisively. And it has a sense of authority, that likes to take control. Some mistake it for arrogance. But it is really, a desire to strive for excellence.
This German team may not be pleasing on the eye, like, say, the Dutch, Spanish or Russians. But, they know what it takes, to win major championships. And that vital knowledge, has remained part of the culture and ethos of the national team.
When the Germans, are thinking and behaving in this way, it will take a very strong-minded group of players to beat them.
