Fast Start

Fast start

I want to explore a case study. In 2014, Brazil played host for the World Cup semi-finals against Germany. They were hot favorites to win the tournament. In this game more than 60 000 Brazilians filled the Belo Horizonte stadium. They (Brazil) were missing their key players like captain Thiago Silva and their golden boy Neymar Jr, through suspension and injury. Even with that, the concensus was still Brazil. When they sang their national anthem the whole stadium reverberated. They sang with a lot of zeal, passion and enthusiasm. It was inspiring and special. Some players even cried, they were playing for all of Brazil. The Germans on the other hand didn't show any of this zeal. It was just another game for them and an opportunity to get to the finals. They were merely focused, relaxed and professional. They didn't show the same energy Brazil showed. They didn't overwhelm themselves, they didn't show unnecessary emotions.

Brazil started the game like a house on fire. Attacking the Germans with everything they had with the crowd cheering and applauding them. It was peculiar, even David Luis, the spine of the defense for the Brazilian team was in offensive positions. Germany kept their shape and structure for the first 10 minutes of the game, getting the feel of the game. 15 minutes later the scoreline was 5-0 in favor of Germany and the Brazilians fans were in shock, crying. Germany had won the game in less than 30 minutes. At half-time Germany subbed of their best defender in Mats Hummels, they saved him for the final and he was too strong for Brazil in any case. At this rate Brazil would never score. Germany did the humanitarian thing and subbed him off. The game finished 7-1 in favor of the Germans, the biggest win by margin in the history of the World Cup tournament in the semi-final stage.

Moral of the story? Don't just throw the sink at your opponent, don't be emotional, don't be expedient, plan, have structure and shape. A fast start doesn't mean anything if you don't win.