4 Things You’ve Learned About Life From The 2014 World Cup

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lItyFez3dRo&w=784&h=588%5D

1. Giants Fall

The David and Goliath narrative will never cease to be spectacular to watch. Throughout the group stages, every single matchup between a new comer and a powerhouse has provided more thrills than a single soap opera episode on Telemundo. Serious upsets not only shift but completely terminate all paradigms. So far the giants of soccer with the most developed national leagues respectively have been knocked out giving hope to lower ranked teams that a win is achievable through sheer will and tenacity and that the presence of superstars in a team means nothing to a well prepared, solid front.

Giants Italy, England and Spain were the first to be knocked out to in the first round. For Spain, the defending champions in this cup, to be eliminated so early it was a huge blow and set the tone for an unpredictable World Cup where all bets were off. Every dog has its day.

2. Final whistle declares the winner

Unfortunately even if you play like your life depends on it and put a lot of effort as if Jesus himself comes down every half-time break to replenish your energies, if by the end of the game you concede more goals than you score, the loss is yours. It doesn’t matter what you have been doing throughout the game, when the 90 minute mark hits and the referee blows the whistle, it is the score that counts. It doesn’t matter who starts the race, to the victor go the spoils.

3. Tenacity pays off

Being persistent can mean the difference between a win and a loss. How long you’re willing to work at something without losing faith; that is the true test of character. The teams that came out as winners are the ones that kept breaking into the opponent’s defence, taking shots from both outside the 18 area and at close range and made the most of all corners, free kicks and fouls to launch an attack. The more times you attack the higher likelihood of scoring. The only difference between a loser and a winner is the latter plays until he gets the trophy.

4. By Any means necessary

You have to be prepared to do whatever it takes to get an edge over the competition and ultimately come on top. So far we have seen so many divers on the field that could get more gold medals than Michael Phelps. Sometimes you have to be able to break a limb, pull a hamstring but most of all play dirty. Ethics, however important they are sometimes play, take the bench when its crunch time. When the going gets tough, the tough get to play acting to achieve the necessary end.