The reasons for the negative performances of the national football team are also psychological and it seems that this kind of explanation has not been taken into consideration by Ventura, national ct, while in this respect most significant players, primarily Buffon, Chiellini and Barzagli have expressed ideas quite clear. It all started from the statements following the defeat with Spain. Ventura said that the players were professionals who would have been able to react positively to 3-0 right away and that this result could not have had any negative impact on the confidence of the team. Opposed were the words of Buffon after the last match with Macedonia:
- “the defeat with Spain has undermined our certainties,
- we thought we were at a higher level than what we really are, probably we haven’t discarded dregs of the match in Madrid.
- There are most important players including myself who have to take the time to help others and put them in the conditions to perform in a team full of ideas which wants to go to the world cup.
- As said Giorgio we miss the carefree after KO in Iberian land,
- and sometimes even the personality we lacking key episodes.
- In the locker room spoke to the coach, his words are more than enough, we need to start having fun, is the first step you need to take to get back to victory and play loose and uninhibited way,
- if we enter into the spiral of negativity does not come out more and we will always do worse,
- it serves a psychological turning point on our part.”
Then, the national team to get out of this negative phase needs: confidence, awareness of one’s own strength, know getting up after defeats, know help, have fun, be uninhibited and positive. But the team was set to these principles? And what was plan B (what you do in place when things are not going in the right way) before the matches with Spain and with Macedonia? How are players helped during the camps to empower this mindset suggested by Buffon and underlying any winning mentality? Certainly it is true that psychological skills are acquired over time rather than a weekend. Also, some players have no place in their club team and so they have no way to test themselves frequently, in matches that you must absolutely win. Nonetheless I would like to heard, at least once, the coach say that meet some psychological difficulties is part of the game and that just because the players are professionals, the team is also working on the mental approach to the game and how to play with a winning mentality. Then may the best team win.
