To illustrate what is happening in these days during the European Football Championship, where the importance of teamwork is constantly being proposed, I want to recall a story reported by Pat Riley, at the time coach of the Los Angeles Laker about Magic Johnson.
“When he played for the Los Angeles Lakers he stood out not only because he was a champion, but also because of his total dedication to the team game: he passed and defended instead of thinking only about making a basket. It was the player himself who told Riley how this collaborative attitude towards the team had become established in him. When he was playing at the youth league level his coach had told him that he was the biggest, best player on the team and that he should shoot all the time. He did so, he scored most of the baskets of the team that so won every time. In spite of these victories the other teammates felt incapable, they were depressed and nobody thanked him or was happy for what he did. He decided that this situation was unbearable for him. From that moment his behavior on the field changed and he put his skills at the service of the team. The team’s mood changed completely, the teammates were much more motivated, they increased their skills and continued to win.” (from Cei, 1998).
If I had to choose the key words of this European Football Championship I would say that they are: enthusiasm, belief and commitment of all.
We read, in fact, that the English team have slammed against the Danish rock, and the English themselves in turn sing “Football is coming home”.
Spain with its passes that always involve the whole team and Luis Enrique who says: “I am happy with what I have seen and proud of my boys, in the final I will be rooting for Italy, impossible not to love it”. The enthusiasm and solidity of the Italian group is evident in the game, there are certainly players of great quality but this is always used to develop a common idea and not the individualism of some.
