Good head in victory and defeat: How should mental health be treated at the World Cup?

Soccer is a sport that arouses many emotions. Among the different feelings, euphoria, sadness, frustration, passion and joy stand out. All this becomes more relevant when it comes to a World Cup. Qatar 2022 It is not the exception with the surprising results that have occurred in the first phase of the championship.

The alert went on in the Middle Eastern country after the harsh statements by Joshua Kimmich after being left out of the World Cup: “It has been the worst day of my career. I’m afraid of falling into a well. I am personally associated with failure and that is something you don’t want to achieve. I joined in 2016 and we were knocked out twice in the group stage.”

For the second time in a row, the footballer who has won 19 titles with Bayern Munich was left without playing in the round of 16 of a World Cup. His statements were very similar to those he gave in Russia 2018 after South Korea eliminated the Germans. “That was the lowest I had ever felt in football. Physically I was fine, but mentally it took me weeks to recover.” he claimed.

In German lands, talking about mental health is a topic that is always on the agenda. Even more so after November 10, 2009. The date on which Robert Enke decided to take his life for sports and family reasons that he could never cope with. The former Barcelona, ​​Benfica and Hannover goalkeeper left this world at the age of 32, leaving a great lesson for the entire football world: we must pay attention to what happens to us.

the expert speaks

Seeking to know the opinion of a specialist, DT spoke with sports psychologist Julio Peche, who tried to explain the phenomenon that occurs after a soccer match where a team arrives with high expectations, as happened with Germany in Qatar 2022. .

“Human beings act on two levels. When an expectation level is too high and that is not met, this affects the thinking and functional part. This is how the sign of constantly thinking about a result that is related to defeat and later to failure is born. Insomnia occurs, muscular discomfort and in some cases they change their behavior in the face of any external stimulus, becoming aggressive. Sadness behavior is more frequent, with certain depressive nuances and anxiety reactions. holds.

“The footballers are not only aware of the fans, but also of themselves. Going to a World Cup representing a country generates a great level of pressure. You have to learn to drive collectively or individually. That is why it is very important that each technical command have specialists who can be aware of this issue, that based on exercises the athlete can have a much more appropriate reaction in situations of defeat ”, added.

FIFA puts a hand to the chest

In advance of Qatar 2022, the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Qatar Ministry of Public Health announced the launch of the project to raise awareness of mental health during the 2022 World Cup. This agreement was fully supported of FIFA. The highest body of world football is increasingly interested in these important issues outside the field of play.

This initiative consisted of creating 32 “friendship banks”, which will represent each participating country. These were installed in key places in Doha and outside the eight sports venues used for the organization of this championship. In each module it has been possible to find illustrations that act as tips so that visitors can practice them in search of physical and mental health.

“FIFA is proud to partner with the World Health Organization and the Qatar Ministry of Public Health to put football at the service of society and leave a lasting legacy in Qatar for residents and visitors alike,” stated Gianni Infantino a month before the start of Qatar 22.